https://cambodia.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Cambodia 60 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/18611/captive-royal-turtles-lay-54-eggs-at-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-center.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=18611 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18611&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/18611/captive-royal-turtles-lay-54-eggs-at-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-center.aspx Koh Kong - Over the last few days of January 2023, the WCS Turtle Conservation Team collected 54 Royal Turtle eggs from four clutches deposited on an artificial sand bank beside a breeding pond at the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center (KKRCC). The eggs were laid on the night of January 16 and 18, according to images obtained from a camera trap installed on the sand bank. This is the third consecutive year that Royal Turtles have laid eggs in captivity in Cambodia. The team expects to collect more eggs of captive turtles at the Centre during the 2023 nesting season which began in January and will continue through March. Last year, the team found 81 eggs from nine clutches on the same sand bank. Captive breeding is one of several conservation strategies used by WCS Cambodia and Fisheries Administration to restore the population of the Royal Turtle in Cambodia. KKRCC currently holds 184 Royal Turtles, and 147 young adult Royal Turtles have been released back into the wild since 2015. Sub-adult and adult turtles at the KKRCC are kept in four breeding ponds, whilst younger animals are raised in large plastic tanks before transferal to the breeding ponds. The Royal Turtle, scientifically known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. Thanks Mandai Nature, Allan & Patricia Kaval Foundation, and TSA for the continued financial and technical support for the center.         rleak@wcs.org Thu, 19 Jan 2023 07:56:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18611 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/17583/580-iconic-giant-turtle-hatchlings-released-into-the-mekong-river.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=17583 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17583&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/17583/580-iconic-giant-turtle-hatchlings-released-into-the-mekong-river.aspx Kratie (May 23, 2022)—To mark World Turtle Day, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with Fisheries Administration celebrates the conservation of the Critically Endangered Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtles in Cambodia, by releasing 580 hatchlings into the wild​ along the Mekong River in Sambour district of Kratie province​. “With continuous support from our donors and good cooperation from the Fisheries Administration (FiA), plus strong commitments of our field staff and community nest protection team, WCS has made significant progress in conserving this critically endangered turtle species over the past years,” said Ken Sereyrotha, Country Program Director for WCS Cambodia. “However, this species is being threatened by illegal hunting and trafficking. In 2021, at least nine individuals were seen trading online and two were found dead by illegal fishing,” he said. In the 2022 nesting season, the community nest protection team found 63 nests with 2,155 eggs. From early March to 20th May 2022, 982 baby turtles hatched from 40 nests, of which 402 hatchlings were released into the wild, while the rest were released today. The conservation team await the fate of the remaining eggs, and they are hopeful that these remaining nests will show positive results. In the 2021 nesting season, the team found 66 nests with 2,528 eggs and released 1,300 hatchlings into the wild.​ Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of the Department of Fisheries Conservation of Fisheries Administration, said: “We highly appreciate the participation of local authorities, community and WCS in the conservation of critically endangered turtles so that they can persist in the natural water bodies. All stakeholders should continue their efforts to conserve the threatened species, and those who still trade protected species will face legal action.” “Cambodia has an incredible wealth of species and habitats. The Giant Softshell Turtles is one of the species that need protection urgently. Joint conservation efforts of communities, authorities and WCS should continue, to help the wild population to recover”, said Clemens Beckers, representative of the EU Delegation in Cambodia. “We all have a common goal of saving this species from extinction, and the EU remains committed to working with our partners to achieve this,” he continued. Sharing the same deep pools along the Mekong River with Irrawaddy Dolphin and Mekong Giant Stingray, Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle is truely an iconic species in the Mekong River. The release of this flagship species will play a significant role in marking the return of one of the giant freshwater species from the brink of extinction. Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle, Pelochelys cantorii is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Only a few records of the species exist in Laos and other countries, and it has disappeared across much of its former range in Vietnam and Thailand owing to poaching and trade of adult turtles and illegal collection of their eggs for food. In Cambodia, it was not observed in the wild by scientists between 2003 and 2007, until it was found on the Mekong River in between Kratie and Stung Treng.  WCS and FiA have been working to conserve the species since 2017 through disrupting the illegal capture and trade in freshwater turtles, a community-based nest protection program, and support to Community Fisheries and community development. WCS’s conservation of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle is funded by the European Union- Partners against Wildlife Crime Project, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA). rleak@wcs.org Mon, 23 May 2022 06:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17583 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/17582/thirty-royal-turtle-babies-hatch-in-captivity-in-cambodia.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=17582 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17582&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/17582/thirty-royal-turtle-babies-hatch-in-captivity-in-cambodia.aspx Koh Kong, Cambodia (20 May 2022) – Thirty Royal Turtle babies hatched in an artificial sand bank at the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center (KKRCC) last week. This is the second time that Royal Turtles have laid eggs in captivity in Cambodia. During the 2022 nesting season Royal Turtles in a captive-breeding group at KKRCC laid 81 eggs in nine clutches and 30 of them hatched. This compares favorably with 2021, when only one of 71 eggs in five clutches successfully hatched. At the same time, two captive females at the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), partner of WCS’s second breeding colony, laid 16 eggs in two clutches. Unfortunately, only one of in total three fertile eggs successfully hatched and the hatchling has been transferred to KKRCC for head-starting, making a total of 31. “While breeding in nature is decreasing, we are encouraged by the success of our captive breeding program to ensure the long-term survival of the Royal Turtle.” said Som Sitha, WCS Landscape Project Manager. “This year’s nesting season none of the nests was found on the beach along the Sre Ambel River System within the Fisheries Management Area in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces.” Dr. Steven G. Platt, Associate Conservation Herpetologist for WCS in Southeast Asia said, “This is one of the most exciting and significant developments in Royal Turtle conservation in Cambodia. With this successful hatching of so many baby turtles, the long-term survival prospects for the Royal Turtle suddenly got much better.” Dr Sonja Luz, Deputy CEO at Mandai Nature said, “This is extremely encouraging news. The success of these hatchlings could not have been done without an all-hands approach, involving the team on-ground and support from various partners involved. This active contribution to species recovery plans is also testimony to the important role ex-situ management plays for species protection.” “The hatching of these turtles underscores the importance of building breeding colonies of at-risk species in their country of origin,” said Andrew Walde, Chief Operating Officer of Turtle Survival Alliance. “With so few adult Southern River Terrapins successfully nesting in the wild in Cambodia, producing successive generations of this Critically Endangered species in captivity is the best chance we have at not only ensuring their survival in the country, but repopulating terrapins to their native habitat.” “Ex-situ management is increasingly used to prevent species extinction and this year’s breeding result is a promising sign for the future of the captive breeding program for the Royal Turtle and a significant development in the conservation of the species in Cambodia”, said Christel Griffioen, ACCB Country Director. Mr. Ouk Vibol- Director of Department of Fisheries Conservation said, “We are very proud to get this great result. We strongly encourage and support the continuation of this captive breeding program for restoring this species in the future and we hope this species will survive for our next generation.” WCS Cambodia has been working with the Fisheries Administration (FiA) of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) since 2000 to conserve the Critically Endangered Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), also known as Royal Turtle in Cambodia. After rediscovering the species in 2000 in the Sre Ambel River system- currently designated as Fisheries Management Area, Southwest Cambodia, WCS started the nest protection program by recruiting former egg collectors to become the turtle nest protectors. In 2006, a head-starting facility was built in Koh Kong’s Sre Ambel district to accommodate hatchlings collected from the field. Each year all of the hatchlings are transferred to the KKRCC, WCS’s dedicated turtle conservation facility, which was established in 2016. On the ground, critical conservation interventions are also being implemented including education and awareness raising, law enforcement, livelihood development, capacity building of Community Fisheries, post-release monitoring, and fisheries research. KKRCC currently holds 186 Royal Turtles. 147 young adult Royal Turtles have been released back into the wild since 2015, including the release of 51 turtles in late 2021. Sub-adult and adult turtles at the KKRCC are kept in four breeding ponds, while younger animals are raised in large plastic tanks before transferal to the breeding ponds. The hatchlings produced by the captive-breeding group at KKRCC will be “head-started” for approximately four years to a size less vulnerable to predators and then released into the Sre Ambel River. Mandai Nature, Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation, Turtle Survival Alliance, Allwetterzoo Münster, WCS Canada, and private donors are key partners providing funding to the breeding program. Funding for the field activities comes from European Union- Partners against Wildlife Crime, Mandai Nature, Rainforest Trust, US Forest Service, USAID-Feed the Future, and previous donors. ### WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242. ACCB (Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity) is a species conservation centre of the Allwetterzoo Münster, Germany, located in Phnom Kulen National Park. ACCB focuses on the ex-situ conservation of threatened wildlife, mainly chelonians and endangered bird species, native to Cambodia through collaboration with government authorities and various national and international organizations. Furthermore, ACCB provides environmental education presenting a learning venue for local communities, national and international visitors and government staff. Mandai Nature Mandai Nature is dedicated to protecting threatened species, nurturing healthy ecosystems and creating vibrant communities where wildlife and people can thrive and co-exist, in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Through collaborations with like-minded partners, Mandai Nature aims to protect threatened species from extinction, especially those endemic to Asia and often overlooked, including addressing issues of wildlife trade and the fragmentation of habitats.  In driving nature-based solutions, it focuses on green and blue carbon, while protecting and restoring tropical forests, mangroves and peatlands to help mitigate climate change. It is also working closely with local communities and organisations to create economic opportunities and invest in building skills and conservation capacity on the ground. Mandai Nature hosts the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) secretariat as well as the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) Southeast Asia Resource Centre. Mandai Nature was jointly established by Temasek and Mandai Wildlife Group. More information can be found at www.mandainature.org Link to images: https://wcs1-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/rleak_wcs_org/EiSN32P4AaRPj7jp38Yk6h8BNRelmdn7ladgSaGBlAjViQ?e=qQJGnO Or this link: http://gofile.me/2OPdo/gozczmWQm    (Photo credit: Chris Poyser, KKRCC Manager) rleak@wcs.org Fri, 20 May 2022 04:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17582 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/17469/royal-turtle-lays-80-eggs-in-koh-kong.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=17469 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17469&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/17469/royal-turtle-lays-80-eggs-in-koh-kong.aspx In 2022, a Royal turtle (Batagur affinis) at the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre (KKRCC) has laid 80 new eggs which will soon hatch. This brings hope for environmentalists after only one of the 71 eggs laid last year hatched due to lack of conditions. Som Sitha, Project Manager of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), told The Post on April 11 that Steve – a one-year-old royal turtle – was the only egg among the 71 eggs that hatched at the (KKRCC) back in 2021. It was named after “Steve”. He said that Steve was named after Dr Steven G. Platt, an American herpetologist, in honour of his research work. With support from Fisheries Administration, Platt was the first to rediscover the existence of the royal turtle, also known as southern river terrapin, in the Sre Ambel stream system in Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong Province in 1999-2000. Read more: CLICK HERE Source: The Phnom Penh Post rleak@wcs.org Wed, 20 Apr 2022 01:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17469 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/16937/51-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=16937 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=16937&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/16937/51-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx Kampong Seila (November 26, 2021) – The European Union (EU), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, today released 51 critically endangered Royal Turtles into the Sre Ambel River system in Kampong Seila district of Preah Sihanouk Province. All the 51 Royal Turtles, globally known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), were collected immediately after emerging from their nests along the Sre Ambel River and Kampong Leu River in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces from 2006 to 2015 and sent to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center in Tuol Korki village, Tuol Korki commune of Mondul Seima district, where they have been cared for and prepared for a life in the wild, according to Som Sitha, WCS Landscape Project Manager. The turtles, 31 females and 20 males, range in age from 6 to 15 years-old. Each turtle was implanted with a microchip, and an acoustic transmitter was attached to their shell. These measures will allow the conservation team to monitor each individual and track their movements through the river system.    H.E Poum Sotha, Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Director General of Fisheries Conservation, said: “We highly appreciate the participation of local authorities, community and WCS team who have been working together to conserve critically endangered turtles so that they can persist in the natural water bodies. All stakeholders should continue their efforts to conserve the threatened species, and those who still trade protected species will face legal action.” The European Union is funding this wildlife conservation project, in which WCS and the FiA partner with local communities to counter illegal wildlife trafficking and to protect endangered species. In addition to supporting this work, the European Union is also a key development partner to sustainable fisheries management in Cambodia. “Cambodia has an incredible wealth of species and habitats. The Royal Turtle is one of the species that need protection urgently. Joint conservation efforts of communities, authorities and WCS should continue, to help the wild population to recover,” said Clemens Beckers, representative of the European Union Delegation in Cambodia. ”Today, we are glad to release these turtles into their natural habitat.” The Royal Turtle is among the world’s 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles, listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. It was designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. The Royal Turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000, when a small population was rediscovered by Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working together to protect the species from extinction. Conservation activities include a nest protection program, head-starting of young turtles, law enforcement, research and monitoring, prevention of illegal trade, and outreach and livelihood support, all supported by several donors including the European Union and Mandai Nature. The continued sand dredging, illegal fishing, overexploitation and loss of habitat resulting from land grabbing and clearance of riparian flooded forest, are major threats to the survival of these species which remains at great risk of extinction. The release is part of a Royal Turtle Conservation project supported by the European Union, as well as other ongoing and past projects supported by Mandai Nature, the Rainforest Trust, the United States Forest Service, Allan & Patricia Koval Foundation, USAID Feed the Future and Turtle Survival Alliance, implemented by WCS in partnership with the Fisheries Administration (FiA). This Royal Turtle release is the result of nearly two decades of turtle nest protection, head-starting of the young turtles in the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, and community-based protection of turtles in the Sre Ambel River, funded by the donors listed above. This is the sixth release of Royal Turtles into the Sre Ambel River system since 2015, making a total of 147 turtles returned to the wild. Dr Sonja Luz, Deputy CEO at Mandai Nature said, “It is heartening to see yet another release of the critically endangered Royal Turtle into their native habitat which signals the success of the head-starting facility and efforts led by WCS. The strong involvement from the local authorities and communities has also been critical in ensuring the turtles released can thrive in the wild. We all have a common goal of saving this species from extinction, and Mandai Nature remains committed to working with our partners to achieve this.” Dr. Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director, concluded: “With the increasing number of adult in the wild through this release, we do hope that this species will breed in the wild and that annual nests will increase in the next few years.” rleak@wcs.org Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:16937 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/16681/about-royal-turtle.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=16681 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=16681&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/16681/about-royal-turtle.aspx The Southern River Terrapin, Batagur affinis, is a large river turtle with a carapace up to 625 mm in length. This species inhabits large rivers and estuaries of the southern Malay Peninsula (southern Thailand and West Malaysia), Sumatra, and a remnant population is found in Cambodia. The Southern River Terrapin is declining across Southeast Asia and listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and considered one of the world's 25 most endangered turtles. The population of Batagur affins in Cambodia is facing threats from commercial sand mining, illegal fishing, illegal harvesting, and habitat loss from land grabbing and clearance of riparian forests.  The species which was once found in Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong was thought to have disappeared from Cambodia until it was rediscovered in 2001 along the Sre Ambel River System in Koh Kong Province—the only remaining habitat for the species in Cambodia. Conservationists initiated conservation interventions to restore this species in the wild. These include nest protection, education and awareness programs, law enforcement, ​ community livelihood development, head-starting of hatchlings, ex-situ breeding, and post-release monitoring of head started turtles. To date, more than 200 hatchlings, sub-adults, and adults have been released into the Sre Ambel River System. Of those, 96 sub-adult and adult turtles were released into the wild with attached acoustic transmitters to study their movements, habitat utilization, and survivorship. These interventions have resulted in some conservation successes. In 2005, a Royal Decree No 0305/149 designated the species as the National Reptile of Cambodia, named “Royal Turtle” in an effort to bring awareness and conservation for this species. In 2009, the Royal Turtle was classified as “Critically Endangered” under the Sub-Decree No. 123 on threatened fisheries resources and production. In 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) declared the establishment of the Fisheries Management and Protection Area for Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile that covers large majority of the Sre Ambel River System. Although conservation efforts have been underway for more than 15 years, the wild population of Batagur affinis has not significantly increased because illegal threats caused by human are still happening including sand dredging, loss of habitat and hunting for meat and traditional medicinal trade. On another hand, B. affinis like most turtles – are slow growing and require at least 15 years to mature.  Therefore, recovery will occur only over a prolonged period. According to Cambodia Fisheries Law, Article 92, any illegal offences such as catching, selling, buying, transporting, collecting, exporting, importing, processing and stocking all types of natural fishery products of endangered species shall be subject to a transactional fine by the Fisheries Administration in cash from two to three times of the market price of the obvious evidence. WCS’s conservation program for the recovery of the Critically Endangered Royal Turtle is funded by the European Union (EU)- Partners against Wildlife Crime, Mandai Nature, USAID-Feed the Future, US Forest Service, Rainforest Trust, Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation, and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA). rleak@wcs.org Tue, 21 Sep 2021 07:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:16681 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/15758/10-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=15758 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=15758&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/15758/10-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx Kampong Seila – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Department of Fisheries Conservation of the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, ​​in collaboration with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), today released ten critically endangered Royal Turtles (Batagur affinis) into the Sre Ambel River system in Chamkar Luong commune, Kampong Seila district of Preah Sihanouk province. The release was made under a jointly funded project supported by the European Union (EU), WRS, the Rainforest Trust, the US Forest Service and Turtle Survival Alliance implemented by WCS in partnership with the Fisheries Administration (FiA). This Royal Turtle release is the result of nearly two decades of turtle nest protection, care for the young turtles in the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, and community-based protection of turtles on the Sre Ambel River, funded by WRS and other donors. This is the fifth release of Royal Turtles into the Sre Ambel River system, following releases made in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 making a total of 96 turtles -​ returned to the wild. Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of Department of Fisheries Conservation, said “we highly appreciate the participation of local authorities, community and WCS in the release ceremony, who have been working together to conserve critically endangered turtles so that they can persist in the natural water bodies”. He added “all stakeholders should continue their efforts to conserve the threatened species, and those who still trade protected species will face legal action”. All ten Royal Turtles, globally known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), were collected immediately after emerging from their nests along the Sre Ambel River and Kampong Leu River in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces from 2006 to 2015 and sent to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center in Tuol Korki village, Tuol Korki commune of Mondul Seima district, where they have been cared for and prepared for a life in the wild, said Som Sitha, WCS Landscape Project Manager. The Royal Turtle is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. The continued sand dredging, illegal fishing, overexploitation and loss of habitat which resulted from land grabbing and clearance of riparian flooded forest are major threats to the survival of these species which is at great risk of extinction. The Royal Turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was rediscovered by Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working together to protect the species from extinction. Conservation activities include nest protection program, head-starting, law enforcement, research and monitoring, prevention of illegal trade, outreach and livelihood support, supported by several donors including the European Union (EU) and Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS). “We congratulate the Royal Government, local authorities and WCS for their joint efforts in protecting these Royal Turtles, thus highlighting how important it is to protect Cambodia’s rich biodiversity”, said EU Ambassador to Cambodia, Ms. Carmen Moreno. The EU is funding a wildlife conservation project, in which WCS and the Fisheries Administration partner with local communities to counter illegal wildlife trafficking and to protect endangered turtles species’ nests. The EU is also the main development partner supporting Cambodia’s sustainable management of its important fisheries. Dr Sonja Luz, Vice President, Conservation, Research & Veterinary at WRS said, “It’s very encouraging to see the progress of the project, with nearly 100 Royal Turtles now released back to the wild since 2015. This really is the culmination of efforts by the local authorities, community and various wildlife organisations who have come together, with the goal of saving this species from extinction. We are truly committed to continue working with our many partners in protecting threatened species, such as Cambodia’s Royal Turtle, in the region.” Mr. Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director, concludes: “the nest protection program plays a vital role to protect the species by promoting participation of the local community to protect nests and allowing nests to successfully hatch, head start and release into the wild”. View doc in Khmer Media Contact: Leak Ratna (Mr.) Communications Manager Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Tel: 012 819 121 | E-mail: rleak@wcs.org rleak@wcs.org Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:15758 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14742/wcs-provides-training-course-on-patrol-data-collection-using-smart-mobile-app-for-counterparts.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=14742 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=14742&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14742/wcs-provides-training-course-on-patrol-data-collection-using-smart-mobile-app-for-counterparts.aspx Last week, WCS SMART team, in collaboration with Fisheries Administration, provided a two-day training course on “Patrol Data Collection Using SMART Mobile App” for counterparts from Fisheries Administration Cantonments in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces and five fisheries communities along the Sre Ambel River system. The training aimed to build capacity of the participants on how to use SMART Mobile App for accurate data collection and freshwater law enforcement field observations. SMART Patrol Data Collection is one of key activities of the project aiming to design plans and measures to protect and conserve Royal Turtles, Siamese Crocodiles and fisheries resources along the Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk by mitigating fisheries offense and improving community’s livelihood. The training, held in Preah Sihanouk’s Kampong Seila district, was supported by EU-Partners Against Wildlife Crime, Rainforest Trust, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, US Forest Service and Turtle Survival Alliance. WCS and partners are working to prevent the illegal capture and trade in endangered turtles under the EU Partners against Wildlife Crime Project. rleak@wcs.org Tue, 11 Aug 2020 07:56:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:14742 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14261/delegates-from-ministry-of-agriculture-forestry-and-fisheries-visit-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-center.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=14261 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=14261&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14261/delegates-from-ministry-of-agriculture-forestry-and-fisheries-visit-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-center.aspx Koh Kong—On May 24, 2020, H.E Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) led a delegation to visit Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center located in Tuol Koki village of Koh Kong province. The purpose was to learn about WCS’s Royal Turtle Conservation Project which has been implementing since 2001 in collaboration with MAFF’s Fisheries Administration (FiA) and local community along the Sre Ambel River System in Sre Amble district in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk. Accompanied by H.E Eng Chea San, Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Director General of Fisheries Administration (FiA), MAFF and H.E Mithona Phouthorng, Koh Kong Provincial Governor, the minister showed his strong support and motivated the project team to continue putting more efforts in order to protect and conserve the Royal Turtle—the Cambodia’s National Reptile—so their population in the wild keeps increasing in the near future. Since 2001, the project has made significant achievements in its management and conservation activities which included research, nest protection, care of hatchlings and breeding, strengthening law enforcement, education and awareness raising, release of adult Royal Turtles into the wild, and community development with the support from the government and other related development partners. rleak@wcs.org Tue, 26 May 2020 07:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:14261 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14217/23-royal-turtles-hatch-in-sre-ambel-more-than-the-three-previous-years-combined.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=14217 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=14217&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14217/23-royal-turtles-hatch-in-sre-ambel-more-than-the-three-previous-years-combined.aspx Koh Kong – Twenty-three Royal Turtles hatched from nests on the Sre Ambel River this year. This is more than the total number hatched in the previous three years combined. The 23 hatchlings were from three Royal Turtle nests found and protected by a community nest protection team on two sand beaches along Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong Province. One of the nests was found on a beach used every year by the turtles, while the other two nests were found on a beach not used by turtles for nesting since 2007. Of the total of 51 eggs only 23 eggs hatched, it is not known why the other eggs failed. WCS attributes this success to conservation efforts by local community and the release of the guidelines and Prakas [ministry proclamation] dated July 10, 2017 by the Ministry of Mines and Energy on the resolution to stop all sand dredging along the Sre Ambel River System. Another proclamation, Prakas No. 133 dated March 6, 2019 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries called for the inclusion of Sre Ambel River System as a Fisheries Management and Conservation Area for Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile. Said Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director: “This increase in the number of hatchlings shows that conservationists, working with local communities and government partners, can achieve measurable conservation successes. With ongoing support and cooperation, we are hopeful that the number of turtles will continue to increase in the coming years.” The Royal Turtle, scientifically known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), is one of the world’s 25 most threatened freshwater turtles and tortoises. It islisted on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and was designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005and is protected by sub-decree No. 123 dated August 12, 2009—a fishery resource endangered in Cambodia. Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of Fisheries Conservation Department of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said: “I am really happy that MAFF issued the Prakas No. 133 which will not allow all illegal fishing, especially illegal sand dredging activities along the Rivers of Kampong Som, Prek Kaaong and Kampong Leu. ” Mr. Vibol added that the Fisheries Administration actively worked with WCS to conserve Royal Turtles through habitat and beach protection, research and monitoring, nest protection program, establishment of fishery communities, and improvement of community’s livelihood. The European Union (EU) is funding a wildlife conservation project, in which WCS and the Fisheries Administration partner to counter illegal wildlife trafficking and to protect Royal Turtles’ nests. The EU is also the main partner supporting Cambodia’s sustainable management of its important fisheries. Said European Union Ambassador Carmen Moreno: “This increase in hatching of Royal Turtles is great news for this critically endangered flagship species. We congratulate the Royal Government and WCS for their efforts in protecting them, thus highlighting how important it is to protect Cambodia’s rich biodiversity.” The turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was re-discovered by Fisheries Administration and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. After the discovery, WCS initiated a community-based nest protection program which employed former egg collectors to search for and protect nests, instead of harvesting them. The nest protection program continues to be implemented by WCS in collaboration with Community Fisheries in Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong province and Kampong Seila district of Preah Sihanouk Province and Fisheries Administration since 2003. Said Dr Sonja Luz, Director, Conservation & Research, and Veterinary Services, Wildlife Reserves Singapore. “We are incredibly pleased to see the positive impact this partnership has on the population of the Royal Turtles in their natural environment.  The increase in hatchlings is an indication that our efforts are starting to bear fruit. We look forward to continuing this partnership with the various stakeholders to support the conservation of these critically endangered turtles.” Royal Turtle conservation would not be possible without financial support from the European Union, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, US Forest Service, Rainforest Trust, and Turtle Survival Alliance. Media Contact:Leak Ratna (Mr.)Communications ManagerWildlife Conservation Society (WCS)Tel: 012 81 91 21 rleak@wcs.org rleak@wcs.org Tue, 19 May 2020 07:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:14217 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/13806/increase-in-royal-turtle-nests-after-ending-sand-dredging-in-the-sre-ambel-river-system-of-fisheries-management-and-conservation-area.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=13806 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=13806&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/13806/increase-in-royal-turtle-nests-after-ending-sand-dredging-in-the-sre-ambel-river-system-of-fisheries-management-and-conservation-area.aspx Koh Kong (Feb 12, 2020) – As of January 2020, conservationists from the local communities, Fisheries Administration and WCS found three nests of Royal Turtle with a total of 51 eggs in the Sre Ambel River System. During the previous four years only one nest was found each year. This success comes after the release of the circular and Prakas (announcement) dated July 10, 2017 by the Ministry of Mines and Energy on the resolution to stop all sand dredging business along the Sre Ambel River System, and the Prakas No. 133 dated March 6, 2019 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the inclusion of  Sre Ambel River System as Fisheries Management and Conservation Area for conservation of Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile. . “The Sre Ambel River System is key to the survival of Royal Turtle because it has beaches, flooded forest and mangrove where they can find their food and breed,” said Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director. “The increase in the nests resulted from (i) the decision made by the government to end sand dredging business and include the Sre Ambel River System as protected area for Royal Turtles and (ii) the recent release of 86 Royal Turtles into the river by WCS in collaboration with the Fisheries Administration.” The Southern River Terrapin, Batagur affinis or locally known as Royal Turtle, is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of Fisheries Conservation Department of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said, “The Royal Turtle has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by Royal Decree issued in 2005 and is protected by sub-decree No. 123 dated August 12, 2009—a fishery resource which is classified as endangered in Cambodia.” “I am really happy that MAFF issued the Prakas No. 133 which will not allow illegal fishing or illegal sand dredging activities along the rivers of Kampong Som, Prek Kaaong and Kampong Leu,” Mr. Vibol said, adding that the Fisheries Administration actively worked with WCS to conserve Royal Turtles through habitat and beach protection, research and monitoring, nest protection program, establishment of Community Fisheries, and improvement of community livelihoods. WCS wishes to thank Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Rainforest Trust, European Union, US Forest Service, and Turtle Survival Alliance for their continued support for Royal Turtle conservation. Media Contact: Leak Ratna Communications Manager 012 81 91 21 rleak@wcs.org rleak@wcs.org Wed, 12 Feb 2020 06:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:13806 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/13698/20-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=13698 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=13698&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/13698/20-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Department of Fisheries Conservation of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, ​​in collaboration with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), today released 20 Critically Endangered Royal Turtles (Batagur affinis) into the Sre Ambel River system in Dong Peng commune, Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong province. The release was made under a jointly funded project supported by the European Union (EU), WRS, Rainforest Trust, US Forest Service and Turtle Survival Alliance implemented by WCS in partnership with the Fisheries Administration (FiA). The Royal Turtle release is the result of nearly two decades of turtle nest protection, care for the young turtles in the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, and community-based protection of turtles on the Sre Ambel River, funded by WRS and others. This was the fourth release of Royal Turtles into the Sre Ambel River, following releases made in 2015, 2017 and 2019, making a total of 86 turtles. H.E Srun Limgsong, Deputy Director of Fisheries Administration, said “we highly appreciate the participation of local authorities, community and WCS in the release ceremony, who have been working together to conserve critically endangered turtles so that they can persist in the natural water bodies”. He added “all stakeholders should continue their efforts to conserve the threatened species, and those who still trade protected species will face legal action”. All of the 20 Royal Turtles for release in 2020, globally known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), were collected immediately after emerging from their nests along the Sre Ambel River and Kampong Leu River in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces from 2006 to 2015 and sent to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center in Tuol Korki village, Tuol Korki commune of Mondul Seima district, some 15 km southeastern Koh Kong Municipality, where they have been cared for and prepared for a life in the wild, Mr. Som Sitha, WCS Technical Advisor said. The Royal Turtle is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. Due to illegal fishing, overexploitation and sand mining, the Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk Provinces is now the only place where the species is still found in Cambodia. They are at great risk of extinction. The Royal Turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was rediscovered by Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working together to protect the species from extinction. Conservation activities include nest protection program, head-starting, law enforcement, research and monitoring, prevention of illegal trade, outreach and livelihood support. “The nest protection program plays a vital role to protect the species by promoting participation of the local community to protect nests and allowing nests to successfully hatch,” said Mr. Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director. “We are very excited to see the progress of the project and celebrate the fourth release of the Royal Turtles. This is a great example of how such an important species can be protected from extinction when the government, local community and wildlife organizations come together. With very few mature individuals left in the wild, WRS is committed to supporting the conservation of Cambodia’s Royal Turtle for the long term, and working with our partners to increase the population numbers in their natural habitat,” said Dr. Sonja Luz, Director, Conservation & Research, and Veterinary Services, WRS. rleak@wcs.org Fri, 10 Jan 2020 05:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:13698 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12376/200-cantors-giant-softshell-turtle-hatchlings-released-into-mekong-river.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=12376 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12376&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12376/200-cantors-giant-softshell-turtle-hatchlings-released-into-mekong-river.aspx To celebrate World Turtle Day, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Department of Fisheries Conservation of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released 200 Endangered Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle Hatchlings into the Mekong River on May 25. This is the fourth release of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle Hatchlings into the ​Mekong River in 2019, following the second and third event last March and April in the same district where 654 hatchlings were released. Approximately 800 Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle hatchlings have been released into the Mekong River each year since 2007. The release ceremony was held in collaboration with Department of Fisheries Conservation of the Fisheries Administration (FiA) at Koh Peng in Yeav Village, Kampong Cham Commune of Sambour District in Kratie Province. All of the hatchlings are aged between 15 and 30 days. In order to improve survivorship these hatchlings were collected by WCS nest protection teams immediately after emerging from the sand when they are most vulnerable so that they can be released in safety from turtle nesting beaches. Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of the Department of Fisheries Conservation, said “we highly appreciate the participation of local authorities, community and WCS in the release ceremony, who have been working together to conserve critically endangered turtles so that they can persist in the natural water bodies”. He added “all stakeholders should continue their efforts to conserve the threatened species, and those who still trade protected species will face legal action”. WCS has five community nest protection teams—four in Sambour district and one in Siem Bouk district of Stung Treng. Each team is tasked to search for the turtle’s eggs and protect them until hatched, and then build a temporary wooden pen to keep and feed them for about two weeks before releasing them into the wild. From 2007 to 2019, the team has found 449 nests (12,985 eggs) on 60 different locations in the two provinces. With good care from the teams, 10,128 (or 78%) of the total have successfully hatched. This figure included 1,005 hatchlings protected by the teams during the 2019 nesting season, which started in November 2018 and ran through to May 2019. Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle Pelochelys cantorii is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Only a few records of the species exist for Laos, and it appears to have disappeared across much of its former range in Vietnam and Thailand. In Cambodia it was not observed in the wild by scientists between 2003 and 2007, when it was found on the Mekong River in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces by Conservation International (CI). CI worked with Fisheries Administration to protect the species until 2017, when they handed over the project to WCS. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working to conserve the species through a nest protection program, law enforcement patrols, education and awareness raising among local fishermen and students. “With continuous funding support from EU, USFWS, WRS and TSA, plus good cooperation from FiA, WCS has made significant progress in implementing its project over the past years,” said Dr. Ken Sereyrotha, Country Program Director for WCS Cambodia. “The hatchling release is the result of our joint effort in conserving turtles, in which main activities included turtle nest protection, care for the baby turtles at the hatching sites, and community-based turtle nest protection,” he added. “The nest protection program plays a vital role to protect the species by paying former egg collectors to protect nests, generating extra income for them and allowing nests to successfully hatch,” he said. WCS’s conservation of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle is funded by the EU, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), USFWS, and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA). Etienne Delattre, WCS’s EU-Counter Wildlife Trafficking Project Coordinator for WCS/Greater Mekong said “The four-year EU Counter Wildlife Trade regional project, began in January 2019, and in Cambodia will focus on turtles, which are globally affected by illicit trade. Cambodia retains populations of a number of highly threatened turtle species, and is both a source and transit country for the trafficking of turtles to markets in Vietnam and China”.   rleak@wcs.org Sat, 25 May 2019 18:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12376 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12337/four-new-royal-turtle-hatchlings-taken-to-conservation-center-in-koh-kong.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=12337 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12337&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12337/four-new-royal-turtle-hatchlings-taken-to-conservation-center-in-koh-kong.aspx Four new Royal Turtle hatchlings hatched and were taken late last month to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre (KKRCC) in Koh Kong Province, for feeding, raising and possibly breeding in the future. The four hatchlings emerged from a nest of seven Royal Turtle eggs found by a WCS Community nest protection team on a nesting beach along the Kampong Leu River in Preah Angkeo village, Dangpeng commune, Sre Ambel district in January 2019. Unfortunately, only four eggs successfully hatched, while the rest were spoiled after they had been monitored and protected for three months. The Royal Turtle, scientifically known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. The turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was re-discovered by FiA and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. A community-based protection program was implemented in Sre Ambel and employs former egg collectors to search for and protect nests, instead of harvesting the eggs. Mr. Long Sman, Nest Protector, who found the nest, said the four hatchlings hatched on April 26, 2019. He assumed that the three eggs, which did not hatch, may be a result of high temperatures during the hot season. Mr. Sman added that despite this being a disappointing result he was proud that his team were able to save the four remaining eggs. “There are only a few Royal Turtles left in the wild, so numbers of their nests are also low. This year, conservation team found only one nest the same as last two years,” said Som Sitha, WCS Technical Advisor to Sre Ambel Conservation Project. “This is a big concern for Royal turtle conservation. If sand dredging, illegal clearance of flooded forest and illegal fishing still continues, our National Reptile species will face high risk of extinction,” he added. From 2003 to April 2019, 42 nests (equaled to 636 eggs) have been found and protected at the locations in Koh kong and Preah Sihanoukvile provinces along the Sre Ambel River system. Of the 636 eggs, only 427 hatchlings have successfully hatched of which 127 hatchlings have been released into the wild immediately after hatching in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The remaining had been sent to KKRCC for feeding until they reached their adult age of about 12 years before releasing them back into their natural habitat. To protect them from possible widespread disease/disasters, which may cause a massive death to the hatchlings, KKRCC allotted 27 sub-adults to the Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity. As a result, the center released sixty-six adult Royal Turtles into the wild in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Currently, there are 217 hatchlings and young adult turtles left at the center. “In March 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued the Proclamation (Prakas) to designate most sections of the Sre Ambel River system into a management zones for both Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile conservation. This Prakas should encourage better management and protection for the Royal Turtle,” said Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director for Fisheries Conservation Department of Fisheries Administration. “Coupling with the new release of 66 Royal Turtles and the restoration of nesting beaches, the project hopes that the number of nests will increase within the next few years,” he said. This project is supported by European Union, Wildlife Reserve Singapore, Rainforest Trust, Turtle Survival Alliance and USFS. rleak@wcs.org Thu, 02 May 2019 01:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12337 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12237/20-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=12237 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12237&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12237/20-royal-turtles-released-into-their-natural-habitat.aspx Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Department of Fisheries Conservation of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released today 20 Critically Endangered Royal Turtles into the Sre Ambel River system, in Boeng Trach village, Chamkar Luong commune in Kampong Seila district of Preah Sihanouk province. The release was made under the EU-funded project implemented by WCS in partnership with Wildlife Alliance, Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) and the Fisheries Administration (FiA), entitled: “Disrupting illicit supply chains of wildlife in Asia by leveraging civil society partnerships to increase the effectiveness of Government action.” The project aims to reduce trafficking and demand for threatened wildlife in the Greater Mekong. It is a four-year regional project, commencing in May 2019, according to Etienne Delattre, EU-Counter Wildlife Trafficking Project Coordinator for WCS/Greater Mekokng. In Cambodia, the project will focus on turtles, which are globally affected by illicit trade. Cambodia retains populations of a number of highly threatened turtle species, and is both a source and transit country for the trafficking of turtles to markets in Vietnam and China.  The project will: 1. Protect populations of threatened turtles, such as Cantor’s Softshell Turtle and Royal Turtle, in the wild, 2. Collaborate with Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) to improve the livelihoods of communities that protect wild turtles and their nests, and 3. Collaborate with Wildlife Alliance and Fisheries Administration to enhance law enforcement and reduce illegal trade and trafficking of turtles within and through Cambodia. The Royal Turtle release is the result of nearly two decades of turtle nest protection, care for the young turtles in the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, and community-based protection of turtles on the Sre Ambel River, funded by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and others. This will be the third release of Royal Turtles into the Sre Ambel River, following releases made in 2015 and 2017, making a total of 66 turtles. All of the 20 Royal Turtles for release in 2019, scientifically known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), were collected immediately after emerging from their nests along the Sre Ambel River and Kampong Leu River in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces in 2006 and 2007, and sent to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center (KKRCC) in Tuol Korki village, Tuol Korki commune of Mondul Seima district, some 15 km southeastern Koh Kong Municipality, where they have been cared for and prepared for a life in the wild, Mr. Etienne said. The Southern River Terrapin is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. Due to illegal fishing, overexploitation and sand mining, the Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk Provinces is the only place the species still found in Cambodia. They are at a great risk of extinction. The Royal Turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was rediscovered by Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working together to protect the species from extinction. Conservation activities include nest protection program, head-starting, law enforcement, research and monitoring, prevention of illegal trade, outreach and livelihood support. “The nest protection program plays a vital role to protect the species by paying former egg collectors to protect nests, generating extra income for them and allowing nests to successfully hatch,” said Dr. Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director. “The program has released two groups of our head-started Royal Turtles consisting of equal numbers of sub-adult males and females into their natural habitat in 2015 and 2017. Our post-release monitoring program has showed that control of threats means that there is high survival of turtles, bringing hope that we can restore the wild population” he added. Royal Turtle conservation would not be possible without support from the European Union, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Rainforest Trust, Turtle Survival Alliance and USFS. rleak@wcs.org Fri, 26 Apr 2019 19:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12237 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11715/the-fight-against-the-sand-mining-brings-hope-for-royal-turtles.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=11715 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11715&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11715/the-fight-against-the-sand-mining-brings-hope-for-royal-turtles.aspx Sre Ambel, Koh Kong Province (November 14, 2018) - The circular and declaration issued on 10 July 2017 by the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s (MME) to stop all types of sand dredging activities in Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong Province, have led to the renewal of the nesting beaches along the river. Thanks to heavy rain and floods, some of the beaches are coming back naturally. This is the result of the great efforts and success of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with Fishery Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery to safeguard the Critically Endangered Royal Turtle nesting beaches. The Royal Turtle has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by the Royal Decree No. NS/RKT/0305/149 dated March 21, 2005 and categorized in the determination of fish species and products that are endangered by the Sub-decree No. 123/ANKr.BK dated August 12, 2009. Also known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), it is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. A recent increase in sand mining along the Sre Ambel River system is putting this species at great risk of extinction. Sre Ambel River system is a very important conservation site because it is the only place in Cambodia where Royal Turtles, Cambodia’s National Reptile, can be found. The decision of MME to stop all types of sand dredging activities in Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong Province and ban all export reflects strong commitment from MME in avoiding the negative impacts from sand dredging activities on the environment, fisheries, local communities as well as the protection of biodiversity, including Royal Turtles.   “The survival of Royal turtle is very much dependent on nesting beaches, riparian forest, and flooded vegetation for their breeding ground” said Mr. Ken Sereyrotha, WCS Country Program Director. “I am so pleased to see the reformation of nesting beaches along this river after they have been destroyed by sand mining in the past decade. The return of these nesting beaches will be very important for the Royal Turtles we released in 2015 and 2017,” he added. “FiA has been working very hard with MME on the cancellation of the sand mining in the river system,” said Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of Fisheries Administration Conservation Department. “In response to the MME’s Proclamation, FiA is now drafting a Ministerial Proclamation (Prakas) to put most sections of the Sre Ambel River system into a management zone for Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile. This Prakas will come into effect very soon,” he added. Royal Turtle conservation would not be possible without support from Wildlife Reserves Singapore, National Geographic Society, Chicago Zoological Society, US Forest Service, Rainforest Trust, and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. Media Contact: Kuch Sovithiea (Mr.) Communications Officer Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Tel: 077 772 077; E-mail: skuch@wcs.org   schiek@wcs.org Fri, 16 Nov 2018 06:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11715 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11625/critically-endangered-royal-turtles-on-the-road-to-recovery.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=11625 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11625&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11625/critically-endangered-royal-turtles-on-the-road-to-recovery.aspx Sre Ambel, Koh Kong Province (October 05, 2018) - After their release in November last year in Sre Ambel River system, the WCS monitoring team and the Department of Fisheries Conservation of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that recovery efforts for the only remaining wild population of the Southern River Terrapin are showing signs of success. All of turtles that were released in 2017 have been detected since. The monitoring data shows that one has travelled to another river system which is nearly 100 km away from the release site. Another one was captured by a fisherman and handed over to the project. The released turtles are now dispersing over a wider area. The Southern River Terrapin, also known locally as Royal Turtle (Batagur affinis), is one of the world’s 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and has been designated as Cambodia’s National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. Due to illegal fishing and sand mining along the Sre Ambel River in Koh Kong Province, the only place the species is still found in Cambodia, the species is at great risk of extinction. The Royal Turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was rediscovered by Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working together to protect the species from extinction. Conservation activities include nest protection program, head-starting, law enforcement, monitoring and outreaches. “The nest protection program plays a vital role to protect the species by paying former egg collectors to protect nests, generating extra income for them and allowing nests to successfully hatch,” said Mr. Som Sitha, Technical Advisor to the project. “The program has released two groups of our head-starting Royal Turtles consisting of equal numbers of sub-adult males and females into their natural habitat in 2015 and 2017. Our post-release monitoring program has showed that control of threats means that there is high survival of turtles, bringing hope that we can restore the wild population,” he added. “Sand dredging, logging of riparian forest and illegal fishing are the big issues that degrade all the turtle’s habitat, especially their nesting beaches. We need support from all relevant institutions to limit the level of threats along the Sre Ambel River system ,” said Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of Fisheries Administration Conservation Department. “FiA is now drafting a Ministerial Proclamation (Prakas) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to put most sections of the Sre Ambel River system into a management zone for Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile. This Prakas will come into effect very soon,” he added. Royal Turtle conservation would not be possible without support from Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Turtle Survival Alliance, National Geographic Society, Chicago Zoological Society, US Forest Service, Rainforest Trust, and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.   schiek@wcs.org Fri, 05 Oct 2018 05:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11625 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11160/over-600-eggs-of-asian-giant-softshell-turtle-discovered-in-mekong-river.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=11160 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11160&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11160/over-600-eggs-of-asian-giant-softshell-turtle-discovered-in-mekong-river.aspx Conservationists from Fisheries Administration (FiA) WCS and community members have found 20 nests of Asian Giant Softshell Turtle containing 663 eggs on sand bars along the Mekong River in... meng@wcs.org Tue, 20 Mar 2018 23:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11160 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11070/a-nest-of-critically-endangered-royal-turtle-found-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=11070 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11070&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/11070/a-nest-of-critically-endangered-royal-turtle-found-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx A nest of the Critically Endangered Royal Turtle with 16 eggs has been discovered by conservationists from Fisheries Administration (FiA), WCS, and local communities along Sre Ambel River system... meng@wcs.org Sun, 18 Feb 2018 22:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11070 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10831/first-asian-giant-softshell-turtle-nest-of-the-season-located-in-the-mekong-river.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10831 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10831&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10831/first-asian-giant-softshell-turtle-nest-of-the-season-located-in-the-mekong-river.aspx A nest of the globally Endangered Asian Giant Softshell Turtle was found so far this season​ on a sandbar on the Mekong... meng@wcs.org Mon, 18 Dec 2017 22:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10831 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10785/inauguration-of-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-center.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10785 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10785&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10785/inauguration-of-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-center.aspx Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WCS inaugurated the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center (KKRCC) on .... meng@wcs.org Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10785 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10755/twenty-five-critically-endangered-royal-turtles-return-to-the-wild.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10755 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10755&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10755/twenty-five-critically-endangered-royal-turtles-return-to-the-wild.aspx 25 Royal Turtles Returned to their natural habitat in the Sre Ambel river system, the only place... meng@wcs.org Wed, 15 Nov 2017 21:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10755 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10460/nine-siamese-crocodiles-hatch-at-the-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-centre.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10460 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10460&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10460/nine-siamese-crocodiles-hatch-at-the-koh-kong-reptile-conservation-centre.aspx Nine Siamese crocodiles have hatched at the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Cen... meng@wcs.org Mon, 14 Aug 2017 23:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10460 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10315/wcs-supports-decision-by-ministry-of-mines-and-energy-to-stop-sand-dredging-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10315 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10315&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10315/wcs-supports-decision-by-ministry-of-mines-and-energy-to-stop-sand-dredging-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx WCS supports the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s (MME) decision to stop all types of sand dredging activities in Sre Amble River system in.... meng@wcs.org Tue, 18 Jul 2017 03:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10315 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10214/first-nest-of-critically-endangered-siamese-crocodile-recorded-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10214 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10214&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10214/first-nest-of-critically-endangered-siamese-crocodile-recorded-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx Conservationists from the Fisheries Administration (FiA), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and local communities found a nest with 19 eggs of the Critically Endangered Siamese Crocodile in Kean-to pond, near Preah Angkeo Village, Dongpheng Commune, Sre Ambel District, Koh Kong Province, while searching for tracks, signs, and dung of wild crocodiles in the area. This is the first Siamese Crocodile nest recorded in six years of research and protection in the Sre Ambel River System. Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is listed on IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, because its global population is declining at alarming rate. This species lives only in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Its global population is around 410 adult Siamese Crocodiles, while 100-300 wild adult Siamese Crocodiles live in Cambodia, making it the most important country for the conservation of this species. meng@wcs.org Tue, 27 Jun 2017 23:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10214 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10182/over-150-asian-giant-softshell-turtles-returns-to-the-wild.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10182 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10182&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10182/over-150-asian-giant-softshell-turtles-returns-to-the-wild.aspx WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) in collaboration with Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration (FiA) and the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) released 150 Endangered Asian Giant Softshell Turtle hatchlings into their natural habitat along the Mekong River.The hatchlings are part of a community protection program designed to increase the wild population of the species, and had been collected from nests that were guarded by local communities.The Asian Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) is listed on the IUCN Red List as globally Endangered. It was thought extinct in the Cambodian portion of the Mekong River until re-discovery in 2007 in a 48-kilometer stretch of the river between Kratie and Stung Treng Provinces. meng@wcs.org Wed, 21 Jun 2017 23:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10182 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10047/nine-new-royal-turtle-hatchlings-taken-to-conservation-center-in-koh-kong.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=10047 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10047&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/10047/nine-new-royal-turtle-hatchlings-taken-to-conservation-center-in-koh-kong.aspx After being protected for three months, nine new hatchlings of Royal Turtle successfully hatched and were taken to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, Koh Kong Province, for feeding, raising and possibly breeding in the future. meng@wcs.org Wed, 10 May 2017 00:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10047 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/9885/tun-sarorn-has-spent-over-10-years-taking-care-of-captive-royal-turtles.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=9885 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9885&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/9885/tun-sarorn-has-spent-over-10-years-taking-care-of-captive-royal-turtles.aspx Hundreds of thousands of people have heard of the Royal Turtle, Cambodia’s National Reptile, but not many are aware that Ms. Tun Sarorn has spent over 10 years taking caring for and feeding captive Royal Turtles. meng@wcs.org Tue, 28 Feb 2017 21:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9885 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/9862/illegal-electro-fishing-killing-royal-turtle.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=9862 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9862&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/9862/illegal-electro-fishing-killing-royal-turtle.aspx An adult female Royal Turtle was killed by illegal electro-fishing in the Sre Ambel area last week. The dead turtle, which is over 11 years old and weighs 9kg, was found dead along ​the Kaong River. meng@wcs.org Thu, 16 Feb 2017 23:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9862 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/679/new-turtle-hatchlings.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=679 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=679&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/679/new-turtle-hatchlings.aspx Eleven new turtle hatchlings are being reared at the Sre Ambel hatchling centre. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:679 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/739/surveying-alternative-sites-for-the-mangrove-terrapin.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=739 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=739&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/739/surveying-alternative-sites-for-the-mangrove-terrapin.aspx A rapid field-based assessment of the the Sre Ambel river and surrounding areas was implemented in late 2008 by a collaborative team comprising members of Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:739 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/680/improvements-to-the-sre-ambel-hatchling-centre.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=680 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=680&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/680/improvements-to-the-sre-ambel-hatchling-centre.aspx The project team has focused on improving facilities at the hatchling centre in 2008 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:680