Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary

Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location in Thailand
Location	Bueng Kan Province, Thailand
Coordinates	18°10′N 103°59′E / 18.167°N 103.983°E / 18.167; 103.983Coordinates: 18°10′N 103°59′E / 18.167°N 103.983°E / 18.167; 103.983
Area	186.5 km²
Established	1975
Governing body	Wildlife Conservation Office

Phu Wua (Thai: ภูวัว) is a wildlife sanctuary in northeastern Thailand, in Bueng Kan Province. It covers an area of 186.5 km² of the districts Seka and Bung Khla.

The wildlife preserve covers forested hills along the Mekong River, ranging between 160 and 448 m elevation. The highest hill is Phu Wua Lang Tham Sung. Shorea obtusa is the most common tree. The dry and wet virgin forests are interspersed with bamboo forests and grasslands. Wildlife of the sanctuary includes elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, pheasants, monkeys, and gibbons.

The area was first surveyed in 1964, but the survey was halted due to the growing communist insurgency in the area. It took till 1974 for the forestry department to complete the survey and report the results to the government. On 2 May 1975 it was established as a wildlife sanctuary by royal decree.