Boonsong Lekagul

1907 - 1992

Dr. Boonsong Lekagul: The Father of Thai Conservation

Dr. Boonsong Lekagul (1907–1992) was a transformative figure in Southeast Asian biology. A medical doctor by training and a naturalist by passion, he underwent a profound personal evolution from a trophy hunter to the region’s most fierce advocate for wildlife protection. His work laid the foundation for modern Thai ecology, mammalogy, and ornithology.

1. Biography: From Medicine to the Wilds

Boonsong Lekagul was born on December 15, 1907, in Songkhla, southern Thailand. He pursued a career in medicine, graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University. In the 1930s, he established the Sahakarn Clinic in Bangkok, which became a successful private practice.

However, his true calling lay in the forests. During the 1930s and 40s, Boonsong was an avid hunter, a common pursuit for the Thai elite of that era. Yet, as he witnessed the rapid destruction of Thailand’s primary forests and the dwindling numbers of big game, he experienced a "conservationist conversion." By the early 1950s, he hung up his rifle and dedicated his life to documenting and defending the natural world. He transformed his medical clinic into a de facto headquarters for conservation, housing a massive collection of specimens and a publishing wing for educational materials.

2. Major Contributions: Taxonomy and Protection

Boonsong’s contributions were twofold: scientific documentation and legislative activism.

Taxonomic Documentation: Boonsong was a self-taught taxonomist who recognized that Thailand’s biodiversity was being lost before it could even be named. He systematically cataloged the country’s fauna, providing the first comprehensive records of Thai mammals, birds, and butterflies.
The National Park Movement: He was the primary architect behind the establishment of Thailand's first national park, Khao Yai, in 1962. He lobbied the government tirelessly to move away from "forest exploitation" toward "forest preservation."
Legislative Reform: He played a pivotal role in drafting the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act of 1960, the first piece of modern legislation in Thailand that legally protected endangered species and regulated hunting.
Species Identification: He was instrumental in the discovery and description of several species. Most notably, he worked closely with Kitti Thonglongya in the discovery of the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), the world's smallest mammal.

3. Notable Publications

Boonsong understood that conservation required public education. He authored and illustrated numerous field guides that remain benchmarks in the field:

A Guide to the Birds of Thailand (1968): This was the first comprehensive guide to Thai ornithology, later updated in 1991 with Philip Round. It became the "bible" for birdwatchers in Southeast Asia.
Mammals of Thailand (1977): Co-authored with Jeffrey A. McNeely, this massive work (over 700 pages) provided the first detailed accounts of the biology, distribution, and conservation status of Thai mammals. It remains a core reference text for mammalogists globally.
Butterflies of Thailand (1977): Another seminal work that brought scientific rigor to the study of Thai entomology.
Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia (1975): Co-authored with Ben King and Edward Dickinson, this expanded his reach to the entire region.

4. Awards & Recognition

Boonsong’s work received international acclaim during a time when conservation was often ignored in developing nations:

J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize (1979): Often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for Conservation," he was the first Thai recipient.
The Peter Scott Memorial Award: Awarded by the IUCN Species Survival Commission for his outstanding contribution to conservation.
Knight Commander (Second Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant: A high-ranking Thai royal decoration honoring his service to the nation.
Honorary Doctorates: He received several honorary degrees from Thai universities, including Kasetsart University, in recognition of his scientific achievements.

5. Impact & Legacy: The Boonsong Effect

Boonsong’s legacy is visible in the very landscape of Thailand. The country’s extensive network of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries—covering nearly 20% of its landmass—is a direct result of the movement he started.

He founded the Association for the Conservation of Wildlife (ACW), the first NGO of its kind in Thailand. Through the ACW, he mentored a generation of Thai biologists and conservationists who would go on to lead government departments and environmental organizations. His use of high-quality illustrations in his books (many of which he drew himself) set a standard for scientific communication in Asia, making complex biology accessible to the general public.

6. Collaborations

Boonsong was a master of international and local collaboration, bridging the gap between Western scientific rigor and local ecological knowledge:

Kitti Thonglongya: His most famous protégé, with whom he collaborated on the discovery of the White-eyed River Martin and the Hog-nosed bat.
Jeffrey A. McNeely: A world-renowned conservationist who worked with Boonsong on Mammals of Thailand before becoming the Chief Scientist of the IUCN.
Ben King & Philip Round: Leading ornithologists who helped Boonsong refine the taxonomy and field identification of Asian birds.

7. Lesser-Known Facts

The Clinic-Museum: His Sahakarn Clinic was famous among international scientists. A visitor might find a patient being treated in one room and a newly discovered species of bat being prepared as a specimen in the next.
The "Extinct" Martin: Boonsong was the first to describe the White-eyed River Martin (Pseudochelidon sirintarae) in 1968, a bird found only at Bueng Boraphet. Tragically, the bird has not been seen since 1980 and is now feared extinct—a loss that Boonsong predicted would happen if habitat destruction continued.
Artistic Talent: Boonsong was a gifted artist. When he couldn't find suitable illustrators for his early books, he taught himself to paint birds and mammals with such precision that they were indistinguishable from the work of professional biological illustrators.
Voice of the Wilderness: He hosted a popular radio program in Thailand for years, where he would tell stories about wildlife to children, effectively "growing" a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.