A group of elephants has been photographed by Wildlife Conservation Society researchers working in eastern Cambodia. The elephants were photographed in the Seima Protection Forest by a camera that was triggered remotely when the elephants passed by. The sequence of photographs was taken at night, and shows three adults (two females and one male) and two calves passing a camera that was installed at a mineral lick.
There are a total of ten pairs of cameras distributed across the Seima Protection Forest, and researchers visit the cameras regularly to download the images that have been recorded. The sequence can be viewed at: http://www.facebook.com/wcscambodia.fb?v=photos
Following a population survey that was conducted in 2006, the number of elephants in the Seima Protection Forest was estimated at 116 individuals. As well as being larger than expected, the elephant population was shown to be part of a metapopulation, with individuals interbreeding with other local populations. This suggests that proper protection could also lead to a recovery of elephant populations in the area, as both Seima Protection Forest and the wider protected area complex in Southern Mondulkiri have extensive areas of elephant habitat remaining.