In January, a group of 16 students from the University of Minnesota took part in a first ever field course focused on conservation issues and field methods for studying large mammals in Thailand.

As an introduction to Thailand, students spent 3 days on a live-aboard floating study center traveling from Bangkok to Ayuthaya. From there, we traveled to Ratchaburi to visit the Khao Pratubchang Wildlife Confiscation and Breeding Center to learn first hand about the ecology and behavior of some of Thailand's most charismatic animals. The last 2 weeks of the course were spent at Khao Nang Rum Wildlife Research Station in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary working with the Thailand Tiger Project team to survey for tiger prey and set up camera traps to detect tigers in the southernmost region of the sanctuary.

For pictures and video of our trip, please visit http://umnthailand2008.multiply.com/