Every morning at Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, teams of rangers begin their day with a singular mission: to preserve one of Thailand’s most iconic marine environments while ensuring the safety and satisfaction of thousands of daily visitors. The park, located in Krabi Province, is a major international tourist destination famed for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and biodiversity.
The work begins at dawn. Rangers clean beaches and prepare visitor areas for incoming tourists. After a morning briefing and task allocation, they disperse across land and sea to cover various zones within the vast national park, which spans both mainland and offshore territories. Throughout the day, personnel are stationed at beaches, information points, and aboard patrol boats. Their duties include offering visitor assistance, enforcing park rules, and monitoring for environmental violations.
A significant part of their role also involves resource protection. Rangers conduct regular land and marine patrols, including night operations, aimed at deterring illegal activities such as poaching or unauthorized fishing. Maintenance work is also ongoing—this includes repair of facilities and management of scenic areas to ensure they remain clean, functional, and safe for public use.
Among the more demanding tasks are underwater missions. These include removing ocean waste and illegal fishing gear, inspecting coral reefs, and monitoring endangered marine species. Rangers also maintain and repair buoys used to mark protected areas and secure boat moorings, which help prevent damage to coral ecosystems. To handle emergencies, they undergo regular training in CPR and emergency response to assist tourists if accidents occur.
Beyond conservation and safety, education plays a role in the park’s mission. Rangers engage with students, community members, and visitors to promote environmental awareness and a conservation mindset. These outreach efforts aim to foster long-term protection of natural resources by instilling a sense of stewardship among the public.
As the day concludes and tourists leave, rangers return to restore order: cleaning, checking equipment, and preparing the area for the next influx of visitors. Their consistent efforts reflect a commitment to balancing tourism with long-term environmental sustainability at this renowned Thai national park.
Officials, including park directors and local authorities, support these ongoing operations and often join field inspections to reinforce policies and ensure the preservation of one of Thailand’s most cherished marine areas.
