Don Chao Poo Forest, Phana,Amnat Charoen Province,Thailand
Where it is: on the edge of Phana, a small district town in the lower north-east of Thailand, 45 kms from Amnat Charoen, the provincial capital, and 60 kms from Ubon Ratchathani.
What it is: Don Chao Poo is a protected forest / monkey sanctuary.
The forest is also the ‘home’ of the village’s guardian spirit, Chao Poo,
founder of the village 300 years ago. The forest is regarded as a sacred place
– religious and municipal ceremonies are held there – and the monkeys
(long-tailed macaques) are seen as the ‘children of Chao Poo’ and so are
revered, fed and protected.
Don Chao Poo Forest, Main Gate
Thai Monkey Forest 