They carry their belongings on their backs and gather in large numbers under full moons. Join Karuna Attenborough on an exploration of the backpacker species…

In Thailand, the backpacker remains a symbol of the kingdom’s tourism, despite the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s efforts to attract more “sophisticated” herds. A healthy population of backpackers flocks to Thailand throughout the year, and are especially abundant during the dry season from November to February for that is when these nomadic wilder beasts can best acclimatize to the tropical heat.

Your common backpacker species will generally avoid Bangkok as busy urban spaces tend to overwhelm and confuse after a long and far journey from their homelands. They will spend as little time in the capital as possible, preferring to populate the more scenic parts of the country.

Fresh off the boat

Research shows how backpacker migration acts as a “rite of passage,” often marking a cub’s first foray into the wild, in such cases as the “gappers,” or the gap-year backpacker. For older flocks, it can also mark a transition period within various stages of adulthood.

 

Contrary to prevalent scientific opinion and appearances, the backpacker is not a primitive breed of the Tourist genus. Recent studies not only show that these roving herds contribute greatly to their transitory ecosystems, but also reveal a diversity of breeds within the backpacker species.

Description: The backpacker comes in a myriad shapes and sizes. However, not all voyage with the tell-tale knapsack – sometimes only a pair of Thai-fisherman pants or hemp bag will distinguish them from other globally migrant packs.

J-packer: By far the most sanitized and well-groomed of the backpackers, the Japanese breed rates the top of the food chain in this species

 

Broad definitions of the backpacker usually describe this species as a mammalian nomad, of more than 15 years, who inhabits crude warrens known as “hostels” or simply, “backpacker accommodation.”

According to one study of the transient backpacker populations in Australia by the University of Queensland, the species is not a homogenous group but, in fact, made up of a variety of breeds.

 

The Australian research identified two main categories of the backpacker based on their consumption and social habits. The vast majority are “minglers,” making up 71% of the species, while the remaining 29% are “loners.”

This sneaky gapper has tried to blend in, but our wily BangkokRecorder wildlife photographer spotted him out

Gap-year migration is a ritual performed by every young cub usually for one year, marking their first venture from the nest into the wild. Often, Thailand will be their first oriental port of call. The plentiful watering holes sprouting along beaches and popular denning areas can render these broods giddy with freedom and intoxicants. Besides their infantile features, gappers can also be identified sporting imitation Von Dutch skins and roaming in packs of at least three.

Origin of the Species: The hippie was the first breed of backpacker in the baby-boom age of the 1960s and 1970s

The hippie also comes in diverse sub-breeds such as the Trustafarian, otherwise known as a Credit Card Gypsy. Though migrating and mingling with more primitive breeds, trustafarians actually belong to sophisticated breeds in their natural habitats, allowing them to spend their entire lifespan permanently nomadic. They often nest for many months or years at a time in outlying or undiscovered regions of a tropical country.

Range:In Thailand, the backpacker can mostly be found in aquatic and mountainous terrain such as the northern or southern parts of the country. Generally, the backpacker will shun highly developed areas to inhabit primitive dwellings.

 

There is nothing the backpacker resists more than other tourists and development. Ironically, it is the backpacker that first forged their way into previously uncharted territory, laying the track for other roaming herds to follow suit.

Three’s a crowd: the backpacker will quickly find others to rove with if they have embarked on their migration season alone

 

The backpacker migrates in pairs and larger groups, though lonesome nomads, particularly the seasoned hippies, can also be sighted.

As the years pass by, backpackers continue to migrate frequently. By this stage, they are able to move with very few possessions.

 

Every full moon, tens of thousands of backpackers descend on the mating ground of Had Rin on the island of Koh Phangan. This small stretch of beach hosts a spectacular monthly ritual where the gathered flock imbibe large amounts of mind-altering chemicals and distilled grain products sucked from straw-filled buckets. A stagger-like mating dance is performed, with couples and occasionally groups eventually drifting off into the water for hours at a time.

In this nocturnal mating ritual, the backpackers can be seen using glow-in-the-dark paints to attract the opposite sex

 

Food: While in their transitory dens on tourist-swamped islands and mountains, the backpacker is not adverse to feeding on the local flora and fauna. In fact, the fare in abundant regions like Thailand can be one of the main attractions for backpacker migration. While roving, they will generally maintain a diet of quasi-local fare, such as fruit shakes, banana pancakes and pad thai. Fodder from their homeland can also be found in popular backpacker sanctuaries.

The backpacker's diet consists of

 

The backpacker can eat all foods, though the hippie breed will often be vegetarian, vegan or lacto-vegetarian. Gappers tend to be more carnivorous and can often subsist entirely on Sangsom buckets.

Backpacker watering hole

 

In Bangkok and other urban landscapes, many will avoid street food in case of illness as a lack of exposure to bacteria in their sterile, natural habitats often leads to weakened immune systems.

Outlook: Far from being endangered, backpacker populations have been growing steadily since the 1980s. One study shows a 35% increase over 2004 alone.

Playing hippy families: unprecedented backpacker procreation since the 1960s has led to an explosion of backpacker populations

 

Contrary to popular assumption, studies reveal that the backpacker is not leaving indelible ecological footprints in their migratory habitats. They are, on the whole, conscious of their environment and inhabitants therein.

Packing attitude: The evolution of the backpacker since their origins in the 1960s is quite evident in these foxy females. More sophisticated than their counterparts, this breed is also cannibalistic, feeding on gapper males

 

In fact, according to some sources, environmentalists are embracing the backpacker as a species that can actually solve environmental issues.

Michael Miersch, co-author of Eco-optimism, wrote: “In third world countries, less tourism means more deforestation, more stockbreeding and more plantations.”

With the opening of Bangkok’s larger Suvarnabhumi Airport planned before this year’s migration season, swelling backpacker numbers have been forecast. Whether their migratory patterns are beneficial to the country’s ecology requires further analysis, however, it is safe to say that the backpacker in Thailand is far from extinction.

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