Residents rescued two rare Sarus cranes in a rice field in Preah Vihear province and transferred them to a wildlife conservation centre in Siem Reap for care and treatment before being released back into the wild.
Rangers from the Damrei Bot ranger station and two staff members from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) received the two birds on Thursday, after residents handed them over to the Mlu Prey II commune police in Chey Saen district.
The residents discovered the birds while harvesting rice near a sugarcane plantation. Unable to identify the species, they captured the birds and took them to the local police to ensure they could be transferred to wildlife officials for protection and care.
The Preah Vihear Provincial Department of Environment and WCS agreed to transfer the cranes to the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) in Siem Reap province for rehabilitation and treatment before their eventual release.
Sarus cranes are a rare and endangered species that depend on wetlands for feeding and breeding. During the breeding season, which generally runs from May to October, they inhabit and reproduce in deciduous forests, wetlands and natural ponds across northern and northeastern Cambodia, particularly in Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces.
According to current data cited by the authorities, an estimated 246 Sarus cranes remain nationwide, including 55 in Preah Vihear province, making the province an important area for conservation efforts.
- Tags: illegal wildlife, Preah Vihear province
