Help Rangers Protect Endangered Cambodian Wildlife

The Cardamom Rainforest Landscape forms part of a global biodiversity hotspot and hosts over 50 IUCN threatened species. Because it is so rich with biodiversity, it is a source for the wildlife trade and attracts outside hunters. Wildlife Alliance rangers from the Green Peafowl station set up a vehicle checkpoint on a road leading out of the protected area. A suspect on a motorbike failed to stop for the military police officer and a chase ensued. Without stopping, the suspect dropped a bag clearly containing wildlife. The ranger collected the bag and found a live mousedeer (or chevrotain), the smallest ungulate in the world, inside.

Watch a video of the mousedeer's release»

The lesser oriental chevrotain (Tragulus kanchil) is the smallest ungulate in the world and the most widespread mousedeer species in Southeast Asia and the only mousedeer species in the Cardamom Rainforest Landscape (Gray 2018). Although they are not threatened with extinction, they are widely hunted for their meat, a fate narrowly escaped by this mousedeer thanks to Wildlife Alliance’s ranger force. The mousedeer was unharmed, so the rangers immediately released it back into the wild.

Thank you for supporting our dedicated wildlife rangers and helping them rescue defenseless animals from the hands of poachers. Don't forget: all donations up to $50 will be MATCHED at 60% from Apr 8-12! If you make a new recurring gift, your donation will be doubled! Don't miss your chance to participate in this year's little-by-little campaign and maximize your impact to help us save rare wildlife. 

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• Watch: Rangers release the mouse deer back into the rainforest

Rangers from the Green Peafowl Station saved an Asiatic softshell turtle from the illegal wildlife trade. While on patrol, the team intercepted a motorbike close to Sre Ambel village. Upon seeing the Wildlife Alliance rangers, the driver dropped the bag he was carrying, ditched his bike, and ran into the forest. When the rangers picked up the bag, they found a softshell turtle inside. Asiatic softshell turtles are being exploited throughout its range for food. As the trade for this species grows, the wild populations dwindle. As a result, the Asiatic softshell turtle is now classified as “Vulnerable” to extinction on the IUCN Red List. Unfortunately, little research has been done on this species and it is not known how many remain today. Wildlife Alliance’s Forest Protection Program is protecting vital habitat for this threatened species and protecting them from poachers. The rangers released this turtle back into protected habitat the next day.

Watch the video here.