https://cambodia.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Cambodia 60 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-features/id/15946/historical-significance-of-ang-trapeang-thmor.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8535&ModuleID=46005&ArticleID=15946 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=15946&PortalID=133&TabID=8535 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-features/id/15946/historical-significance-of-ang-trapeang-thmor.aspx The Ang Trapeang Thmor site boasts a long history dating back to the Angkorian era. Remains of an ancient laterite bridge are visible on the present-day main access road leading to the reservoir, which was part of a major causeway road. This road caused water to accumulate to the north of the causeway, contributing to the wetlands which are a key feature of the habitat today.During Pol Pot's Democratic Kampuchea regime, an 11-km stretch of the east-west causeway was converted into a dam, along with a 9-km stretch of the north-south causeway. Both were undertaken using forced labour, and many villagers died from the strenuous work, malnutrition and poor conditions at the site. The structure was intended to provide irrigation and water storage for the cultivation of rice in the downstream area, but the structure was never completed and fell into disrepair.The dam was renovated in 2004, and is now closed during the wet season to allow the build up of water to the north of the dam wall. This is then released in the dry season to irrigate the fields that are situated to the south of the dam. However, the exact timing and duration of the release of the water is a contentious decision each year; if too much water floods the area to the south, the rice crop there is destroyed, but if too little water is released, the build-up of water to the north destroys the crop on that side of the dam wall. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:15946 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-features/id/15945/seasonal-movements-of-sarus-cranes.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8535&ModuleID=46005&ArticleID=15945 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=15945&PortalID=133&TabID=8535 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-features/id/15945/seasonal-movements-of-sarus-cranes.aspx Holding complete Sarus Crane counts at the beginning, middle and end of the dry season allows us to piece together the complex pattern of crane movements as they move between wetland areas scattered throughout the country.In January almost all of the cranes were concentrated in the Tonle Sap basin area and Boeung Prek Lapouv, in the Mekong Delta (a total of 601 were counted). Analysis of the 2008 and 2009 shows that large numbers of Sarus Cranes use the Tonle Sap grasslands and nearby seasonal agriculture to forage for food as floodwaters recede. It is possible that a large portion of these birds then move on to Ang Trapeang Thmor (ATT), as figures show an influx of birds in late January/early February. There are similar apparent shifts in numbers between sites in the Mekong Delta. Large numbers of cranes are counted at Boeung Prek Lapouv (BPL) in January, most have disappeared February. At this point, numbers have increased sharply at Kampong Trach-Phu My, peaking in March.However, there is still a paucity of reliable data concerning seasonal movements, and radio-tracking would appear to be the only method that will ensure accurate data. It is already clear, though, that successful Sarus Crane conservation requires a network of sites spread across their entire range. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:15945