https://cambodia.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Cambodia 60 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/15857/first-eggs-of-royal-turtle-laid-in-captivity-in-cambodia.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=15857 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=15857&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/15857/first-eggs-of-royal-turtle-laid-in-captivity-in-cambodia.aspx Koh Kong, Cambodia (02 March 2021) –71 Royal Turtle eggs in five clutches were laid on an artificial sand bank at the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center (KKRCC) early last week. Images obtained from camera traps confirmed that the eggs were laid by five head-started Royal Turtles. This is the first time that Royal Turtles have laid eggs in captivity in Cambodia. Four of the turtles were head-started from wild nests laid in 2006 on the Sre Ambel River, and one was handed over to the KKRCC by people from Koh Kong town in 2017. “It’s the first time that the captive female Royal Turtles have ever laid eggs since they were head-started at the Center in 2006,” said Som Sitha, WCS Koh Kong and Mekong Conservation Project Manager. “The team will make artificial nests for incubation purposes or leave them as they are.” Steven G. Platt, Associate Conservation Herpetologist for WCS in Southeast Asia said, “This is an incredibly exciting and important event, given the extreme rarity of this species in the wild. Captive breeding is a conservation milestone for the recovery of the Royal Turtle in Cambodia. We anticipate soon being able to produce large numbers of Royal Turtles in captivity and releasing them back into the wild.” Dr Sonja Luz, Vice President, Conservation, Research & Veterinary, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), said, “WRS is excited to be part of another major conservation milestone for the species. 2021 has got off to a great start for the Royal Turtles, following the release of 10 specimens back to the wild earlier this year.  It is encouraging to see the work of our partners come to fruition, despite the ongoing pandemic, and to celebrate the achievements together. This is testament to the dedication of the many partners involved to ensure continued conservation efforts to protect the species.” 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 research activities for better result in the future and we hope this species will survive for our next generation.” WCS Cambodia has been working with 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, 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, Cambodia’s only dedicated turtle conservation facility, which was established in 2016.  Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation,  WRS,  TSA,  and WCS Canada are key partners providing funding to the project. KKRCC currently holds 192 Royal Turtles. 96 young adult Royal Turtles have been released back into the wild since 2015, and we plan to release another 50 turtles later in 2021. 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.        View document in KhmerCONTACT: (WCS CAMBODIA) RATNA LEAK: M: 855 12 819 121; rleak@wcs.org                                                             (WCS NEW YORK) STEPHEN SAUTNER: M: +1 908 247 2585; ssautner@wcs.org  rleak@wcs.org Tue, 02 Mar 2021 02:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:15857 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/15091/wcs-and-partners-issue-ten-year-report-card-for-cambodias-most-biodiverse-protected-area.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=15091 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=15091&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/15091/wcs-and-partners-issue-ten-year-report-card-for-cambodias-most-biodiverse-protected-area.aspx Phnom Penh, Cambodia (October 26, 2020) – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) released a report today showing a ten-year population trend for 13 key wildlife species found in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS), Cambodia’s most biodiverse protected area. Using scientifically robust data collected using a standardized methodology, the report shows that the populations of green peafowl and pig-tailed macaque are increasing; populations of black-shanked douc langur, yellow-cheeked crested gibbon, long-tailed macaque, and wild pig are stable; and populations of Germain’s silvered langur, stump-tailed macaque, and all ungulates except wild pig are undergoing declines. Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary holds the highest recorded number of species of any protected area in Cambodia, and is home to globally significant populations of several species, including the world’s largest known populations of the Endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbon and Critically Endangered black-shanked douc langur. "These results highlight the substantial positive impact conservation activities have had on the globally important biodiversity of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, such as maintaining a large, stable population of a critically endangered primate, and an increasing population of endangered green peafowl. They also highlight the scale of the threat to wildlife across Cambodia, with significant declines in all deer and wild cattle species in KSWS," said Olly Griffin, WCS Data Analyst and Operations Technical Advisor. The report details the results of standardized line transects used to monitor the distribution and population of 13 key species since 2010. The distribution estimates have been produced for these 13 species using kernel density estimates (KDE). These have been used to inform the management zonation process for KSWS, representing the first time a robust, data driven process incorporating spatial biological monitoring data has been used for zonation in Cambodia. “The KSWS biodiversity monitoring team is proud of their work over 10 years in collecting this high quality data, with the teams walking a combined total of 9,460 km (5,878 miles) during these surveys. With both Indigenous Bunong and Khmer team members, we all work hard to protect Cambodia’s precious wildlife, and call on other Cambodians to do the same,” said Sot Vandouen, WCS Wildlife Monitoring Team Coordinator. WCS’s work in Keo Seima is highlighted by the KSWS REDD+ project, which started in 2010 and focuses on a core region (166,983 hectares or 644 square miles) of the protected area. The project is the largest carbon emission reduction program in Cambodia’s land use sector and has played a critical role in demonstrating REDD+ successes conserving high biodiversity value landscapes. Experiences from the implementation of the KSWS REDD+ project is also providing important learning outcomes informing the design of Cambodia’s National REDD+ Program, as part of the country’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions under the Paris Climate Agreement. The project includes 20 villages, home to around 18,000 people that benefit from better management of the protected area and support for community development. H.E Net Phaktra, Spokesman and Secretary of State, Ministry of Environment said: “The KSWS REDD+ project has had a significant positive impact on local communities, and this biodiversity survey demonstrates the significant positive impact on wildlife populations as well, for which project staff, local communities, provincial and national government, donors, and carbon buyers should all be proud." WCS’s work in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is supported by the sale of carbon credits, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the Global Environment Facility. WCS also thanks the Ministry of Environment, Mondulkiri and Kratie provincial authorities, and Mondulkiri and Kratie Departments of Environment for their strong cooperation in conserving Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.Download full report here: Status of Key Species in KSWS 2020 ### For more information, please contact:   Simon Mahood WCS Senior Technical Advisor Mobile: +855 (0)89 519 936 Email: smahood@wcs.org    Stephen Sautner Executive Director of Communications Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx Zoo Bronx, NY 10460 M: 908 247 2585 ssautner@wcs.org rleak@wcs.org Mon, 26 Oct 2020 06:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:15091 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14906/nest-protection-team-spots-15-baby-siamese-crocodiles-in-a-lake.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=14906 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=14906&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/14906/nest-protection-team-spots-15-baby-siamese-crocodiles-in-a-lake.aspx KOH KONG, Cambodia (September 11, 2020) – WCS released pics and video today showing critically endangered Siamese crocodile hatchlings (Crocodylus siamensis) – among the world’s most endangered crocodile species – swimming in a natural lake in Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong Province, Cambodia. The images were taken by a patrol from WCS’s Crocodile Nest Protection Team working in collaboration with the Fisheries Administration and Koh Kong Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The team estimates 15 hatchlings, each around 30 centimeters long, swimming in the lake, part of a natural wetland that serves as an important refuge for juvenile Siamese crocodiles. The team noted that due to low rainfall this year, the wetlands are unseasonably shallow providing less shelter then in previous years. The Siamese crocodile is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Once found throughout Southeast Asia, today it is restricted to mainly Cambodia with perhaps 5,000 individuals remaining there. Remnant populations also occur in Laos and Indonesia; it almost extinct in Thailand and Viet Nam. Siamese crocodiles face many threats including habitat loss and illegal hunting of adults, and collecting of hatchlings and eggs to supply crocodile farms in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. WCS’s employs a multi-pronged approach to save Siamese crocodiles from extinction. Crocodile nests are protected by former hunters hired to search for and safeguard them. Law enforcement by a joint patrol team consisting of officers from the Fisheries Administration and local community members remove any illegal fishing gear that might entangle wild crocodiles, and stop habitat destruction. Education and awareness raising in local communities through regular meetings about the species conservation is critical, along with livelihood improvement. The project provides alternative livelihood options to improve community family income through aquaculture practice and to ensure that they are not overfishing at crocodile wetlands. Lastly, head-starting of hatchlings improves their survival rate once released back into the wild.Download pics and video rleak@wcs.org Fri, 11 Sep 2020 09:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:14906 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12480/forty-eight-eggs-of-critically-endangered-siamese-crocodile-found-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=12480 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12480&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/12480/forty-eight-eggs-of-critically-endangered-siamese-crocodile-found-in-sre-ambel-river-system.aspx Sre Ambel, Koh Kong - Conservationists from the Fisheries Administration (FiA), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and local nest protection team found two nests with 48 eggs of the Critically Endangered Siamese Crocodile at two wetlands in the Sre Ambel River system in Koh Kong Province early this week. Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, because its global population is declining at alarming rate. This species lives only in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia. An estimated 100-300 wild adult Siamese Crocodiles live in Cambodia, making it the most important country for the species. “In order to protect the eggs from seasonal flooding and illegal collection, the nest protection team has relocated all of the eggs to artificial nests in a village in Sre Ambel District, where they will be cared for until they hatch, which is likely to be within 65–80 days,” said Som Sitha, WCS Technical Advisor for the Sre Ambel Conservation Project. “After hatching, all of the hatchlings will be immediately released into the wild.’’ “Protecting the wetlands in the Sre Ambel River system is vital to ensure the survival of this important reptile species,” he said. In 2017, the team found one Siamese Crocodile nest of 19 eggs, which was the first nest for many years, and in 2018, they found three nests of 78 eggs. Siamese Crocodile faces many threats to its survival. In Cambodia, threats include habitat loss and illegal hunting of adults, and collecting of hatchlings and eggs to supply crocodile farms in Cambodia and Thailand. “The species is Critically Endangered and very rare in Cambodia. Habitat and nest protection is important to ensure the survival of this species. Egg and hatchling collection is an illegal activity under the Fisheries Law,” said In Hul, Deputy Director of Fisheries Conservation Department of FiA. “Their habitats are so vulnerable through illegal land grabbing for agriculture. I encourage local community to help conserve the species by not destroying habitat and or collecting eggs and juveniles,” he said. WCS would like to thank our current long-term donor Wildlife Reserves Singapore and former donor the Kering Foundation for providing financial support to the Siamese Crocodile Conservation project.   Click HERE to download image For more information, please contact: Som Sitha Landscape Technical Advisor Wildlife Conservation Society Office:    +855 23 219443 M: +855 89 542 333 ssom@wcs.org rleak@wcs.org Fri, 14 Jun 2019 02:52:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12480 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/1033/cambodian-tailorbird-discovered-within-city-limits-of-phnom-penh.aspx#Comments 0 https://cambodia.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=8496&ModuleID=17510&ArticleID=1033 https://cambodia.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1033&PortalID=133&TabID=8496 https://cambodia.wcs.org/about-us/latest-news/articletype/articleview/articleid/1033/cambodian-tailorbird-discovered-within-city-limits-of-phnom-penh.aspx A team of scientists with the Wildlife Conservation Society, BirdLife International, and other groups have discovered a new species of bird. admin_mbunheng Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1033