The area of Mahidol University, Salaya is generally low plain. It was former a rice field and water
lily pond. Two original and natural wetlands within Mahidol, Salaya are preserved and developed. The
first one is located in the north of the Population and Social Research Institute, and the second
one is located in the south of Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park, serving as flood plain in wet
seasons and dries out in dry seasons. Wetland biodiversity is found there with large and bush flora
lushing the area along with swamps and marches. Aquatic plants are generally found; cyperus, typha,
reeds, etc. Plants like Water fern, water lettuce, and wolffia globose are found in shallow area
which helps support biodiversity of plenty of animals ranging from invertebrates, reptiles,
amphibians, small mammals, and aquatic animals. They are also sanctuaries for a number of migrated
and protected birds that cannot be found in cities such as whistling duck, little grebe, coucal,
march sandpiper, purple swamphen, brown-headed gulls, whiskered tern, little cormorant, purple
heron, great white heron, cattle egret, little heron, open-billed stork, racket-tailed treepie,
hair-crested drongo, Asian golden weaver, white-throated kingfisher, green-billed malkoha, pied
fantail, etc.
Flora and fauna living in the wetlands are valuable resources in terms of recreation, leisure,
nature trail studies, bird behavior study, and natural classroom for practical study of many
organizations such as the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, and the
International Institute, etc., by being their teaching aids for topics related to natural ecosystem,
environmental sciences, botany, and zoology. Moreover, the biodiversity in the area is conducive for
undergraduate and graduate researches, and even for lecturers and personnel.
