Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang holds a Ph.D. in law from the University of Bristol in the U.K. and teaches law in Bangkok, but he devotes his free time to his passion for the natural world.
“So, moths and birds are my hobby, which I pursue very seriously,” said Khemthong. “I am a birder and amateur ringer, working on migratory waders and buntings.”
He works with a committee of the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand and Thailand’s Flyway Foundation. He helps to “ring” – or tag – birds in order to study their migratory patterns.
In the photo he is “ringing” a Black-Crowned Night Heron.
“My interest in moth began when I was studying in the UK, where I learned about moths from my friend’s light trap near Severn Beach, Bristol,” Khemthong said.
“Back in Thailand, I realized that there is a huge gap in our knowledge of moths. There might be a large community of photographers who are enthusiastic about shooting them but not knowing the other, deeper, aspects of moths.”
“I hope that by organizing the first National Moth Week for Thailand will help raise awareness of the natural history and conservation of them.”
Welcome Khemthong!