This pioneering project reintroduces Endangered pileated gibbons and other species to Angkor Archeological Park. Angkor's wildlife was decimated by hunting in the 20th century, but its ancient forests are now a well-protected UNESCO World Heritage site. We aim to recreate genetically diverse wildlife populations by releasing a cross-selection of unrelated small carnivores, primates, ungulates, and birds. Released gibbons, muntjac and otters are all raising wild-born offspring in Angkor already!
Angkor was eerily silent after its wildlife was wiped out, but today its forests offer ideal habitat to give wild animals a second chance. Thousands are rescued annually from Cambodia's illegal trade or are captive-born at rescue centers. Proper release protocols are costly but they ensure success. Our animals acclimatize for 6-12 months under keeper care in customized enclosures, are provided supplemental food post-release, and are monitored long-term to ensure they remain healthy and safe.
This project re-wilds Angkor by releasing rehabilitated native wildlife species, offering animals a new wild life in safe forest instead of a lifetime in captivity. Species successfully reintroduced already include gibbons, langurs, otters, muntjac, civets, leopard cats, peacocks and hornbills. Your donations pay for essential on-site acclimatization, care, supplemental food post-release and monitoring of released animals and their wild-born offspring, ensuring sustainable populations in future.
Angkor's once-empty forests span 40,000 hectares and can accommodate significant wildlife numbers. Our project seeds new populations of species that will become self-sustaining as successive generations are born free. Three gibbon pairs released 2013-2020 already produced seven wild-born babies - the eldest reached adulthood in 2020, was paired with a captive-born mate and established her own territory. Partnering with Government agencies that manage Angkor, we build local conservation capacity.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
