Phnom Penh: Mr. Khwai Atthia, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, has asked citizens, local authorities and relevant authorities to continue to cooperate in protecting wildlife, and that killing or hunting wildlife in Cambodia should be severely punished by law.
The Ministry of Environment has expressed regret over the death of a white-tailed deer due to a conflict with dogs belonging to a local community living near a forest in Pursat province.
The conservation of wild animals in Cambodia is very important in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, helping to protect forests, conserve biodiversity, and promote the potential of natural tourism, which provides benefits in terms of generating income for local communities and promoting the national economy and better environmental management.
Please note that wild animals like to live in groups or herds, mixing with other wild animals in various forest areas in Cambodia. There is no official data confirming the exact total number of wild animals in Cambodia, as they are wild animals living throughout the country. Currently, the Sambar deer is very rare and is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambar_deer). Wildlife is our natural heritage. It is our duty to participate in its preservation, protection, and conservation.
In implementing the environmental sector cycle strategy, the Ministry of Environment will not only continue to strengthen law enforcement, but will also work with relevant ministries, institutions, sub-national administrations, local authorities, and citizens in local communities. The Ministry of Environment has focused on increasing green cover and reforestation through the Green Sprouts campaign, which annually promotes the planting of at least 1 million reforestation trees.
