Raise Awareness to Protect Wildlife in Cambodia

While Cambodia is in the epicenter of the Indo-burma biodiversity hotspot, its wildlife is under threat. The Kouprey Express (KE), Wildlife Alliance’s environmental education program, aims to raise awareness and cultivate a culture of conservation throughout Cambodia. They travel throughout the country to engage and educate students and communities about their country’s incredible wildlife. In May, in collaboration with the US Embassy, the KE team traveled to the ESL Excellence School in Prey Veng province to promote wildlife and environmental conservation through lessons and games. To compliment the classroom lessons, the KE team also brought the students to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center where rescued wildlife is cared for, rehabilitated, and often prepared for release back into the wild. After learning about the threats facing Cambodia’s wildlife and then meeting rescued animals first hand, the students were very inspired to protect their country’s wildlife and forests for generations to come.

One of the key pillars to reducing demand for wildlife for meat and medicine is raising awareness of its dangers, with intervention especially needed in hot spots of the wildlife trade. On March 27, the Kouprey Express (KE), Wildlife Alliance’s mobile environmental education team, gave classroom lessons to 35 students at Preah Kosamak Sihanok Primary School and held a Community Night Show in O’sandanchas village in Kampong Chhnang province. The KE is intervening in this area and surrounding villages because the region is rife with wildlife poaching and wildlife products are openly sold on the market. The KE’s community event attracted 100 villagers for a night of educational entertainment. The team addressed the inherent and financial benefits of protecting Cambodia’s natural heritage and protecting its wildlife. Some villagers raised concerns since they make money by exploiting wildlife, however, Ms. Yi, an audience member of about 60 years of age, stood up to address her community and urged them not to hunt, eat, or traffic wildlife and to urged them to report any illegal wildlife trafficking to Wildlife Alliance’s Wildlife Rescue Hotline (012 500 094).

We're raising funds to do more interventions across Cambodia to change attitudes about eating bushmeat. Consumption of bushmeat poses a serious threat to the survival of threatened species and to the health of local people. Many endangered species, such as pangolins, gibbons, and banteng, are largely being driven to extinction due to being over-hunted. Bushmeat also puts humans in close contact with wildlife making them susceptible to disease transmission and outbreaks. If you donate to this project between April 8-12, your donation up to $50 will be MATCHED at 60%! 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.