In May 2016, the BirdLife Cambodia association obtained from the Khmer government the designation of the Siem Pang area and its adjacent forest, known as Siem Pang Kang Lech, as a protected sanctuary. The objective is to render these places inviolable and to introduce endangered animal species there to ensure their survival. The NGO published, on January 1st, its report on 2018 activities in these two protected zones.

These two sanctuaries, located near the Laotian border in Stung Treng Province, are essential for safeguarding local and endangered animal and plant species. They are characterized by measures that ensure their protection and preservation. Human presence is therefore inseparable from this process. BirdLife Cambodia has been working there for two and a half years now. "Siem Pang's western forest is one of the world's most important natural forest zones for biodiversity conservation, and particularly for threatened wildlife species," affirms Sophea Chea, a member of BirdLife Cambodia on the association's Facebook page. They provide refuge on-site to endangered birds such as the white-shouldered ibis, the giant ibis, the red-headed vulture, the slender-billed vulture, and the white-rumped vulture.

A giant ibis nest in the Siem Pang area. ©Facebook BirdLife Cambodia

Renewed Biodiversity

The NGO recently tallied the year's results in the two Siem Pang sanctuaries. Their teams discovered with delight the presence of 17 chicks in 12 of the 16 giant ibis nests. Researchers found nine slender-billed vulture nests and two red-headed vulture nests. They also managed to count, on October 15th last, 320 white-shouldered ibis individuals. These results demonstrate the value of such protected areas in a country where poaching remains prevalent.

A red-headed vulture in the Siem Pang area. ©Facebook BirdLife Cambodia

Thibault Bourru