Bangkok’s fantastic beasts and where to find them (Photos)

TOP: From left, a black-winged stilt, in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang Wetlands, a smooth-coated otter in the Baan Khlong Suan area and an Asian Emerald Cuckoo spotted in the Rama IX Park. Photos: Coke Smith

Cuckoos the color of oxidized copper? Families of otters cavorting in urban waterways? Right here in Bangkok?

While this era of COVID-19 has spoiled plans for epic “nature expeditions” to far-off, exotic places, that’s made it a great time to experience the great outdoors right here in the capital. With that in mind, here are three awesome local escapes to find nature and view wildlife in urban or semi-urban conditions.

All photos by Coke Smith

South Bangkok Shrimp Farms

This area of Bangkok is famous for its awesome seafood restaurants and mangrove- and nepa palm-lined khlongs. This rarely visited part of town can be easily accessed in less than an hour by car from…