Fire is a natural process in Thailand's tropical dry forest. Managers at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (WKKWS) have been performing prescribed burns to portions of the sanctuary to maintain the dry dipterocarp forest and savanna habitat that is vital for tiger prey species such as bantang and sambar.

After a fire soils are enriched with nutrients, which ushers rapid regeneration of grasses and forbes. Dipterocarp trees are adapted to fire and are not killed by low-intensity fires such as these. Wildlife Sanctuary staff are on hand to ensure that the fire does not spread beyond prescribed boundaries, to prevent damage to Sanctuary facitlities or neighboring communities.

HKKWS researchers are monitoring densities of tiger prey species before and after prescribed burns to learn how to best support these ungulate herbivores and respond appropriately in an adaptive managment approach.