At the break of dawn in a village bordering Phayao’s protected forests, a thick mist clings to the mountain ridges. In this agricultural community, the morning silence isn’t broken by the melodic birdsong found in nature documentaries. Instead, it is filled with the frustrated sighs of farmers discovering their crops ravaged overnight. The culprits? A flock of Green Peafowl emerging from the forest edge—majestic, loud, and blissfully unaware of the danger they face.

The Beautiful Nuisance

     The Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) is a species native to Southeast Asia. In Thailand, it is classified as a protected animal under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act. Due to dwindling populations in the wild, the IUCN Red List has officially listed the species as Endangered.

     Between 2012 and 2019, tensions between local farmers and peafowl in Phayao escalated annually. During the dry season, when natural food sources disappear, these highly mobile birds fly into agricultural lands to feast on crops. This conflict led to retaliation—farmers began chasing or injuring the birds, sometimes with fatal consequences. Beyond the immediate violence, this crisis also fueled a rise in the illegal wildlife trade. What seemed like a local nuisance was, in fact, pushing one of the world's rarest genetic lineages toward extinction.

Numbers the World Cannot Ignore

     In 2020, a field survey by researchers from the University of Phayao and the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST) revealed a figure that stunned the global conservation community: 6,644 Green Peafowl were found living in Phayao.

     These populations are concentrated in the Wiang Lo Wildlife Sanctuary, Doi Phu Nang National Park, and Tap Phaya Lo Non-Hunting Area. At Doi Phu Nang alone, 2,600 birds were recorded. This led international experts to a unanimous conclusion: Phayao is officially “The Biggest of the Last Strongholds for Green Peafowl in the World.”

     While populations in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Java have collapsed due to deforestation and poaching, Phayao stands as a beacon of survival. It is no longer just a local sanctuary; it is a global responsibility.

Turning Crisis into Opportunity through Research

     Dr. Ruthaiphat Phimonsri, a researcher at the University of Phayao, witnessed this conflict and launched the "Peafowl Plaza" (Khuang Nok Yung) project in 2017. She started with a fundamental question: "How can humans and peafowl thrive together?"

     The solution was not to drive the birds away or stop farming, but to create "Plazas"—dedicated feeding grounds for peafowl. These areas were then opened for eco-tourism, allowing villagers to participate in conservation while earning a sustainable income. On November 19, 2017, the first "Wiang Lo Green Peafowl Counting Festival" was held at Wat Ku Phang Lang. It marked the day the community shifted from "adversaries" to "guardians."

Science Beyond the Ivory Tower

     What sets the University of Phayao’s project apart is its multidisciplinary approach. This isn't just about environmental science; it’s about deep-tech integration.

• The School of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Led by Dr. Wanida Aphithanaphong and Asst. Prof. Dr. Panthaporn Suphakkankul, the team utilized molecular techniques to develop DNA markers. These markers are used to verify genetic purity, distinguishing "Pure-bred Thai Peafowl" from hybrids mixed with Indian Peafowl. Genetic contamination is a silent killer as dangerous as poaching. Furthermore, in a world-first, this team, in collaboration with Kasetsart University, successfully cultured Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs) from peafowl embryos - creating a cellular gene bank to preserve the lineage forever.

• The Faculty of Law: In collaboration with the Pridi Banomyong Faculty of Law (DPU), legal experts designed social measures to control the release of hybrid peafowl into the wild. A policy forum was held on December 15, 2025, in Chun District, Phayao, to establish a systemic legal framework.

• The Learning Innovation Institute: By using cultural "soft power"—such as forest ordination ceremonies where trees are wrapped in saffron robes—researchers successfully leveraged local beliefs to protect the watershed forests, often more effectively than legislation alone.

A Scientific Return to the Wild

     On January 31, 2025, nine Green Peafowl were released back into the Wiang Lo Wildlife Sanctuary. Each bird had undergone rigorous health screenings and DNA verification by the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This release was a milestone; releasing birds with "impure" genetics could have permanently damaged the remaining wild population. Science ensured the integrity of the wild.

From Pests to Community Pillars

     Sustainable conservation requires economic viability. The project developed "Peafowl-Friendly" community brands, including "Peafowl Jasmine Rice" and local herbal products. By turning the peafowl into an economic asset rather than a burden, the community’s perspective shifted. Programs like "Forest for Income" allowed villagers to legally harvest forest products like mushrooms in exchange for protecting peafowl habitats, proving that a forest with peafowl is worth more than a deforested farm.

The Next Generation

     On August 16, 2025, at TK Park Phayao, youth aged 15-18 gathered for the "Green Peafowl Discovery and Conservation" workshop. They learned why DNA matters, why the similar-looking Indian Peafowl is a threat to their local species, and what their role is in this legacy. When the youth realize that conservation isn't just for scientists but for everyone in Phayao, the movement becomes unbreakable.

From Phayao to the Global Stage

     The Green Peafowl is more than a bird; it is a cultural icon. In Lanna culture, the peafowl is seen as an incarnation of the Buddha, a belief mirrored in Xishuangbanna, China-the famed "Peacock City."

The University of Phayao is now driving the vision of "Phayao: The World’s Peafowl Metropolis," linking eco-tourism with modern trade routes. This mission is documented in the trilingual book (Thai, Chinese, and English), The Last Stronghold of Green Peafowl, to share this success story with the world.

A Responsibility Without Borders

This work is more than a curriculum-based project; it is a global stewardship. Every DNA-verified bird released is a piece of an evolutionary puzzle that humanity nearly lost. Phayao is no longer just a small province in Northern Thailand; it is the final hope for the Green Peafowl.

Interviewee: Dr. Wanida Aphithanaphong and Asst. Prof. Dr. Panthaporn Suphakkankul, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Phayao.