At the request of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Secretary of State, the Kouprey Express (KE) team and the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) were invited to conduct a Community Night Show in the community of Ma-rom in Kampot province. Approximately 250 people from the villages of Preah Angkar, Ma-rom, Phnum Chmar and Derm Doung attended the event. The Community Night Shows are outreach events that raise awareness about wildlife protection to the general public. Interactive games, videos, puppet shows, and music are used to illustrate important environmental principles. At the end of the show, a Q&A was held to test their understanding of wildlife protection. T-shirts and first aid kits were awarded to participants who could correctly answer these questions. They are well received by the communities hosting them, and many travel miles from neighboring villages to attend. The event also provided an important opportunity to promote the wildlife rescue hotline and to help community members understand that the WRRT is there to help them. Events like this are an important way for the Kouprey Express team and the WRRT to increase outreach, and reach other areas and audiences. Help the Kouprey Express team as they expand their work countrywide, by visiting our donation page and choosing Kouprey Express from the dropdown menu.
This month we welcomed a new baby Pileated gibbon to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC). He joins several other babies born as part of the gibbon rehabilitation program, which works to rebuild the gibbon population in the wild. Known for the impressive tree swinging and complex vocalizations, gibbons are spectacular primates to observe in the wild. However, due to extensive hunting and habitat loss these magnificent creatures have been listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Owing to their high demand in the wildlife trade, the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) often rescues gibbons from wildlife poachers that sell them as pets or tourist attractions in bars and hotels. We also receive many donations of gibbons that have been torn away from their mothers as infants and are kept as pets until owners realize they cannot control these wild animals. In attempts to change the animal’s natural behavior, these gibbons are often mistreated and confined to small areas. Caretakers at the PTWRC work hard to rehabilitate the animals, and house them in spacious enclosures to facilitate natural behavior. These large, natural enclosures enable the process of de-humanization in order to make them suitable for reintroduction into the wild. This program has been largely successful in rehabilitating the gibbons, unfortunately finding suitable habitats for their release has proved to be more challenging. Gibbons by nature are highly territorial, with a home range of about 75 acres. They mate for life and live in small families composed of only the mated pair and a few of their offspring. Due to the widespread habitat destruction and competing gibbon families in available protected land, finding suitable release location has been difficult.
Through outreach and education Wildlife Alliance is working to raise awareness about the dangers of keeping primates as pets and continued habitat destruction. Help us continue to rescue and care for these graceful primates, as well as provide them with the adequate space and rehabilitation they require.
Our Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET) project recently built a new campsite in Trapeang Thmar located about 12.5 miles north of Chi Phat. The trek for this site is the first 5 day/4 night trekking tour in Cambodia, and is our longest and most challenging itinerary so far. The trek takes visitors through dense jungle, by stunning waterfalls, through open grasslands and on scenic boat rides. With wildlife sightings common and a wild elephant encounter already recorded, this trek nearly guarantees tourists a chance to experience wildlife first hand!
The trek is already being recognized by several international tour operators, including Charity Challenge. This UK based tour company raises funds for charity organizations through responsible tourist expeditions. Last month, Charity Challenge completed their first Cambodian Jungle Challenge ever at our CBET in Chi Phat! Participants had the opportunity to witness first hand all the great work Wildlife Alliance does for forest and wildlife protection. They boast that the Cambodia Jungle Challenge is also their “greenest challenge,” since our efforts work to protect the Cardamom Mountains and give back to those local communities. After their rugged trek, travelers got a chance to experience the local culture through a homestay in Chi Phat and finally visit the wonderful animals at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center on their way back to Phnom Penh. The tour was a huge success, and Charity Challenge has already booked a second tour for February 2013.
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