Help Care for Rescued Animals in Cambodia

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) has been bustling with activity in recent months. In March 2024, two young male white lions were transferred to the tiger enclosures, which were built by Wildlife Alliance. Our dedicated tiger keeper, Mr. Rong, is now overseeing their care. Though we received limited information we understand the lions, named A-koo and A-kow, were donated by a Chinese man. Upon arrival, both were in fragile condition—A-koo especially, as he could barely use his hind legs. Initially, Fari, our resident tigress, seemed unsettled by their presence, but she quickly adapted. While the new surroundings and their poor health left the lions lethargic at first, it’s remarkable what proper care, sunshine, and exercise can achieve. Today, they are thriving, playing together in their spacious, forested enclosure. Visitors would never guess that A-koo could barely walk just a few months ago.

Our disabled male elephant, Chhouk, continues to be a focus of concern. Rescued in March 2007 from the forests of Mondulkiri when he was just two years old, Chhouk now relies on a prosthetic for his left front leg. Unfortunately, his condition worsened after a serious incident in September 2023, when fellow elephant Lucky knocked him down, breaking his right leg and exacerbating lesions on his stump. Recovery has been slow, but thanks to the advice of international wildlife veterinarians, hydrotherapy was introduced in a specially designed pool completed in December 2023. This, along with a new medication regimen and the arrival of our elephant specialist, Dr. Roopan, has significantly improved Chhouk’s condition. The addition of a laser machine to treat both his internal and external injuries has further accelerated his healing process.

PTWRC’s captive breeding programs continue to yield remarkable success, leading to the reintroduction of various species into protected areas across Cambodia. In the first five months of 2024 alone, 10 wild pigs, 18 sambar, 14 muntjac, and 4 Eld’s deer were transferred from PTWRC to provinces such as Mondulkiri and Koh Kong, with some awaiting release in Phnom Kravanh National Park. This initiative, part of our Angkor Wildlife Release Program and the Koh Kong Wildlife Release Station, aims to increase biodiversity in areas we help protect. Though ‘captive breeding program’ may sound technical, it’s often a natural process—when animals are cared for thoughtfully and introduced carefully, they tend to follow their instincts.

Your generous donations enable us to care for and rehabilitate all the animals at PTWRC and release wildlife back into their natural habitat. Thank you for your invaluable support.

The first half of 2024 has been exceptionally busy at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC). From January to May, we have seen the arrival and births of many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species:

• Welcomed the arrival of 13 Sunda pangolins (Critically Endangered), 3 pileated gibbons, 4 silvered langurs (Endangered), and 1 sambar deer (Vulnerable).
• Celebrated the births of 3 Sunda pangolins, 1 silvered langur, and 1 sambar deer.
• Additionally, 6 leopard cats, 2 binturongs, and 1 Eld’s deer were born at the center.

The Wildlife Alliance Animal Nursery has been less frantic since the instructions came from the Prime Minister, Samdech Hun Sen, in 2023, that people may keep wild animals in captivity if this is for conservation purposes. However, the keepers in the Nursery, whose job is to look after orphaned infants, have still been busy bottle-raising new arrivals, including sambar and muntjac deer, gibbons and silvered langurs, pig-tailed and long-tailed macaques, clouded leopards, and other species.

In September 2023, female elephant Lucky, who was sharing an enclosure with Chhouk, hit him, knocking him into his pool and causing injuries to his right foreleg, which x-rays later indicated might be broken. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines hidden in bread have helped, and after a worrying time, Chhouk’s right leg is getting better. Unfortunately, the bruising to his ‘good’ side, his right shoulder and leg, has meant he uses his damaged left leg more, which has once again worsened the lesions to his stump. Our vets are working to try to ease Chhouk’s discomfort. In April, Lucky also fell sick, suffering from severe abdominal problems. She rapidly lost strength and ate nothing for several days. Her recovery took longer than expected, but thankfully, she is now better. Sakor and Chamroeun, the other two elephants cared for by Wildlife Alliance at PTWRC, are well. In the past, elephant bull Sakor suffered from bouts of diarrhea. These are thought to have occurred due to the poor water quality being pumped from Tonle Bati. There has not been a recurrence following the construction of the water treatment plant by Wildlife Alliance, completed in 2023.

The two female clouded leopards, Rachana and Reaksmey, rescued by Wildlife Alliance’s forest patrol team based in Trapeang Roung, Koh Kong Province in March 2023 as very young cubs, have grown into beautiful young ladies. Their gentle nature is a testament to the kindness they have received from our Nursery keepers who took care of them in their early days. They too suffered a small health problem recently, developing skin irritations, particularly to the inside of their hind legs. Several times it appeared they were better, only for the rash to reappear once more. Time will tell if the current respite from the irritation is permanent.

Phnom Tamao is now divided into three sections: Rescue Centre, standing forest, and Arboretum. The Arboretum, a grand title for the area of forest that was destroyed and subsequently replanted on the instructions of the Prime Minister in 2022, is now protected by Royal Decree. Wildlife Alliance has completed a boundary fence around the entire area in demarcation, which we hope will prevent further attempts to clear the forest and sell the land. Although the fence provides protection, there is still a need for Wildlife Alliance’s forest patrol rangers. Without them, there would be little wildlife left. From January to May 2024, rangers patrolled 152 days and nights, removed 8 snares and traps, and confiscated 8 saws, knives, or axes used for cutting timber.

Hunting by rifle still occurs at night but only occasionally now, as the reputation of our rangers grows. One female sambar was found dead in a snare in March, but most of the casualties to wildlife have been caused by domestic dogs, which we are gradually removing from the forest. We have worked hard, but the job is not yet finished if we are to ensure the safety of our released animals in the years to come.

Your generous donations enable us to care for and rehabilitate all the animals at PTWRC and protect the forest. Thank you for your invaluable support.