Plant a Rainforest in Southeast Asia

For the first time ever, a herd of wild elephants were caught on camera in the Southern Cardamoms of Cambodia. While elephant sightings by locals have been on the rise since 2012, this is the first time elephants have been caught on camera in this part of the country. The discovery of this herd is important confirmation that Wildlife Alliance’s efforts to protect vital wildlife habitat is helping elephant populations recover. Watch the incredible video here.

With renewed impetus and in coordination with World Elephant Day, Wildlife Alliance launched a new campaign to draw attention to the urgent plight of this endangered species. There are less than 35,000 Asian elephants remaining in the wild, and only an estimated 200 elephants in Cambodia. Between 2001 and 2002, 37 elephants were reported killed in the Southern Cardamoms preceding the implementation of Wildlife Alliance’s forest protection program. Since 2006, there have been zero deaths reported. Wildlife Alliance, in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, operates six forest ranger stations whose mandate is to safeguard 1.7 million acres of tropical rainforest. The Southern Cardamoms are part of a mosaic of Protected Areas and Protected Forests that form Cambodia’s largest intact forest and one of Asia’s last remaining elephant corridors. Wildlife Alliance’s reforestation project combats the impact of illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming practices while providing jobs to local residents. Eighty-two workers, primarily women, work in our tree nursery and care for the saplings year-round. Another 150 workers are employed seasonally during the planting season. Wildlife Alliance’s constant monitoring, repeated awareness campaigns, and strict enforcement of wildlife laws has curbed forest crime in the Southern Cardamoms and given elephant populations an opportunity to rebound. As increasing pressure is being placed on the remaining elephant habitat, and human-elephant conflict is expected to rise, it is important for Wildlife Alliance to continue its comprehensive conservation plan to ensure that this globally significant species is protected.

Thank you for helping us continue to preserve forests and wildlife habitats in Cambodia and reconnect fragmented forests for elephants. Your gift has helped plant and maintain over 733,000 trees, and is mitigating the effects of deforestation, preserving watersheds, and providing livelihoods to local communities, and connecting critical elephant habitat.

Join us in celebrating International Tiger Day, on July 29, 2015! This day was established to promote public awareness and support for tiger conservation. The tiger is the world’s largest cat and is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

Throughout history, the tiger has provoked a sense of awe and admiration. Its prowess, ferocity, beauty and agility have incited the imagination - inspiring countless stories, paintings, poems and sculptures. The earliest tiger statue found was made in China almost 7,000 years ago! Revered in ancient and modern culture, the tiger is a symbol of power and strength. It is also the national animal of Malaysia, South Korea, Bangladesh and India. However, the king of the jungle is more than just a cultural symbol; it is also a top predator and a keystone species that maintains the balance of entire ecosystems. Saving tigers requires maintaining a sufficient prey base and saving enough forest to support their populations – a trickledown effect that will save hundreds of plant and animal species. A healthy wild tiger population means a thriving jungle ecosystem, which in turn provides long-term benefits for both humans and wildlife.

Tigers once roamed the entire continent of Asia, but with human expansion they have lost over 93% of their original range. They now survive in small, isolated pockets of forest, where they are vulnerable to poaching and inbreeding. The primary threats facing tigers are habitat loss, depletion of prey species and poaching. As forests shrink and prey species become scarce, human-tiger conflict increases. Since 2001, Wildlife Alliance has been dedicated to the conservation of this iconic species. Our Forest Protection program protects 1.7 million acres of critical forest habitat in the Southern Cardamom Mountain Range and our Reforestation program aims to reconnect fragmented forests so that the remaining tigers are free to roam. At Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC), Wildlife Alliance cares for five tigers rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. PTWRC is also a breeding facility for important prey species like muntjac, Eld’s deer and sambar.

Thank you for helping us plant trees in the Southern Cardamom Mountain Range – keeping one of Asia's last major forests intact. Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming threaten to fragment this 2 million acre forest that is home to some of the last tigers in Asia, and the world’s other iconic and endangered animals. To revive decimated areas, Wildlife Alliance and local communities are working together to plant trees and maintain continuous forest cover. Your gift helps reverse the effects of deforestation, preserve watersheds, and provide livelihoods to local communities, and connect critical tiger hagitat. You do more than put a seed in the ground — you ensure the sustainability of the tropical rainforest for future generations.

Make a difference this International Tiger Day by helping us continue to preserve forests and wildlife habitats in Cambodia and reconnect fragmented forests for tigers. We will also be celebrating all week, by posting fun tiger facts, pictures, and stories on our social media platforms. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about these incredible animals, and help raise awareness!