UNFINISHED REPORT APRIL 2006

Phu Pha Man National Park
Phu Pha Man is a national park in the north-western corner of Khon Kaen province. To the north is the well known Phu Kradung National Park (Loei province) and to the west is the Nam Nao National Park in Phetchabun province. The southern edge of the park is the border with Chaiyaphum province.
 
To the east of Phu Pha Man National Park is the Tham Pha Phuang Forest Park.
 
The national park has many isolated limestone hills, some of which are quite extensive. The southern part of the park has many steep cliffs and many caves. In the northern part of the park the limestone is more scattered, but still forms some impressive limestone outcrops and has several extensive caves.
 
Tham Pha Phuang Forest Park 
 
Caving Expeditions 
Kusch – Khon Kaen – pre 1975
Deharveng’s biospeleology expedition 1987: surveyed Tham Kubio, Tham Pha Phuang 1 & 2. Visited Tham Phulu.
SMCC have made five brief visits between 2000 and 2005:
February 2000 – visits to Tham Khang Khao and Tham Phra. Surveyed Tham Soo, Tham Large 1 & 2.
February 2002 – visit to Tham Khang Khao and Tham Lam Choen.
January 2004 - surveyed Tham Phu Talor.
April 2004 - visited Tham Phaya Nakarat and Tham Lai Tang
January 2005 - surveyed Tham Phra and visited Tham Khang Khao.
July 2005 – visited Wat Tham Thong Pem and Wat Khao Tham Nam.
January 2006 – surveyed Tham Phaya Nakarat, visited Tham Phra, Tham Soo, Tham Nam Thip, Tham…….
References

1. Barrett, D. (2000) "Trip to Thailand, February 2000" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Newsletter Vol. 37 No. 2 pp16-17
2. Barrett, D. (2002) "Shepton Mallet Caving Club 2002 Thailand Expedition" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Newsletter Vol. 39 No. 1 p11
3. Clarac, A. (1981) "Guide to Thailand" Oxford University Press, Kuala Lumpar x + 255pp
4. Clarac, A. & Pagau-Clarac, H. (1985) "Thailande: Guide Touristique" DK Book House, Bangkok ISBN 974-2104-174 508pp (French)
5. Deharveng, L., et. al. (1988) "Expéditions Thaï 87-Thaï 88" Association Pyrénéenne de Spéléologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-02-3 (French)
6. Dunkley, J.R. (1995) The Caves of Thailand Speleological Research Council Ltd., Sydney pp58-60.
7. Dunkley, J. R. (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
8. Elliott, S. & Cubitt, G. (2001) The National Parks and other Wild Places of Thailand New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd., London pp90-93
9. Ellis, M. (2004) "SAM in Siam" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Newsletter Vol. 40 No. 6 pp140-146
10. Ellis, M. & Barrett, D. (2001) "Thailand Expedition February 2000 Report" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 10 No. 8 pp247-272
11. Ellis, M., King, S., Waters, E., Barrett, D. & Fitch, T. (2002) "Thailand 2002 Expedition Report" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 11 No. 1 pp1-29
12. Fitch, T. (2002) "Some Thoughts on Thailand" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Newsletter Vol. 39 No. 1 pp6-8
13. Gray, I.D., Piprell, C. & Graham, M. (1994) "National Parks of Thailand" Industrial Finance Corp., Bangkok ISBN 974-071-612-1 250pp revised edition
14. Kawakatsu, M. & Mitchell, R.W. (1989) "Dugesia deharvengi sp. nov., A New Troglobitic Freshwater Planarian from Tham Kubio Cave, Thailand (Turbellaria; Tricladida; Paludicola)" Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan Vol. 44 pp173-180
15. Kusch, H. (1975) "Hohlen in Laos, Nord-un Westthailand" Die Hohle Vol. 26 No. 4 pp114-123 (German)

Internet References
www.dusit.com/hotel.pck.attraction/attr00045/
 
Maps
1:50,000 maps
1:250,000 maps
1:250,000 geology map
 
Expedition Members 
Dave Barrett 2000, 2002
Tony Blick (Craven PC) 2004, 2005
Dave Briggs 2006
Phil Collett 2005, 2006
Paul Dummer 2000, 2002, 2006
Claire Dummer 2002, 2006
Martin Ellis 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
Terence Fitch 2002
Ivan Hollis 2004, 2005, 2006
Lee Hollis 2006
Sean Howe 2004
Huw Jones (Brynmawr CC) 2000
Dave Owen 2005, 2006
Yupin Sopah 2005

Acknowledgements
Ghar Parau Foundation – grants to 2002, 2004 & 2005 expeditions.
EVA Airways – extra baggage allowance to 2005 expeditions.

Appendices

Appendix A: Phu Pha Man National Park Cave Data