Help Care for Rescued Animals in Cambodia

As you may recall, the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) was established in 1995 by the Cambodian Forestry Administration, which lacked the financial and technical resources to provide for all the animals until Wildlife Alliance started this care for rescued wildlife project in 2001. We have since implemented many infrastructure projects to improve animal care at PTWRC, which in turn have significantly boosted survival and release rates over the past two decades. In July, we completed construction of our most recent investment – a new water filtration plant!

When we started this project at PTWRC, there was no water system at all for the animals. At that time, two decrepit tankers used to draw water from the nearest pool and take it around to the various animal enclosures, which are spread across about 1000 acres. Around 2004, we implemented the current water system to pump water from the Tonle Bati Lake, which lies about 5 miles way and is the nearest permanent, fresh water source. This underground piped water system delivers tap water to every enclosure, which was a huge improvement at the time. However, Cambodia’s regulation of effluents and land use is limited, and over the years the Tonle Bati has become more and more polluted as increasing numbers of factories and industrial farms discharge waste into the lake while the edges are filled in to create new real estate, reducing overall water volume. For quite a while we have used alternative water sources for the most sensitive species, trucking in water from Phnom Penh for the hairy-nosed otter’s pool and using only bottled water for the douc langurs and the baby animals.

Despite these measures, in 2022 we began to notice higher than usual numbers of animals suffering gastrointestinal symptoms. This was not limited to more sensitive primates such as langurs, which were both sickening and dying more frequently, but it was also affecting much large species with tougher digestive systems such as elephants and wild cattle that were fighting prolonged bouts of diarrhea. We began to suspect worsening water quality was behind it, and in November we tested the piped water supply for microbiological and chemical contaminants. The results were shocking, with much higher levels of bacteria, parasite larva and turbidity than are considered safe by drinking water quality standards for humans. It was clear that PTWRC badly needed a water filtration and purification system.

Wildlife Alliance consulted with water treatment experts who recommended a bio-sand slow filter design that addresses problems of oxidation, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and disinfection, with chlorination as a final step. We secured funding from major donors, construction began in April, and the new plant became operational on July 26, 2023! The contractor has trained PTWRC staff to conduct routine chlorination and maintain the system and will provide ongoing coaching and support through June 2024.

Although it’s only been in operation for a few weeks, there are almost no animals with gastrointestinal symptoms now – recently only 3 animals have required veterinary treatment, all with physical injuries unrelated to water quality. We are relieved it seems this problem is sorted for the time being!

While major donor funding is essential to initiate major infrastructure projects such as this, smaller donations from GlobalGiving supporters like you are vital to help pay ongoing costs, such as our new monthly bill for chlorine! Thank you so much for your support.