| Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park | |
| Alt Name: | เขาแหลมหญ้า-หมู่เกาะเสม็ด |
| Iucn Category: | II |
| Location: | Rayong Province, Thailand |
| Nearest City: | Rayong |
| Coordinates: | 12.5908°N 101.4169°W |
| Area Km2: | 131 |
| Established: | 1981 |
| Visitation Num: | 1,619,908 |
| Visitation Year: | 2019 |
| Governing Body: | Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) |
Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet (Thai: เขาแหลมหญ้า-หมู่เกาะเสม็ด) is a Thai marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand off the coastline of Rayong, approximately 180 km southeast of Bangkok.[1] [2] In 1981, the Royal Forest Department declared the archipelago of Ko Samet, along with nine other small islands, the headland of Khao Laem Ya, and the 11 kilometre Mae Rampeung Beach to be a national park, and thus these areas are under the jurisdiction of the national parks department. In August 2013 more than 500 national park officials were deployed to destroy three resorts—Muk Samet, Unseen, and Ploy Samet—which had been built illegally in the park.
The park covers an area of 81,875 rai ~ [3] of land and sea in Mueang Rayong District (Thai: เมืองระยอง), Rayong Province. The major and minor landmarks of the park are:
and the islands of:
Fish in the waters around the islands include Parrot fish, blue damselfish and Cuttlefish are also found.[4] Mammals include Crab-eating macaque, Lesser mouse-deer and Flying foxes are also found here.[4] The islands are home to the following seabirds Pacific reef heron, Black-naped tern, Bridled tern, Great crested tern and Roseate tern.[4] Other birds in the park include Blue-winged pitta, Zebra dove, Coppersmith barbet and Asian barred owlet.[4]
In September 2016, the park chief and 79 other officials were removed from their posts for corruption. Investigations found that 200,000 baht per month was paid to park officials as kickbacks. The Department of National Parks (DNP) found that all businesses on Ko Samet "valued at over 100 million baht per month" were operated by "mafia groups", some linked to police officers. Since the removal of corrupt officials, revenues at the park have increased, rising to 4.8 million baht in October 2016, compared with 1.2 million baht in October 2015.[5]