Three nests belonging to critically endangered red-headed vultures are being guarded day and night to ensure their survival after they were discovered earlier this month at Preah Vihear’s Chheb Wildlife Sanctuary, according to a spokesman with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Spokesman Eng Mengey said the first nest was found on January 1 and the other two were discovered on Friday.

The population of red-headed vultures in the Kingdom could be less than 50. Cambodia is also home to the slender-billed and white-rumped vultures. However, all three types of vultures have taken a hit in recent years, with their populations dropping by half since 2003.

The three species are all listed as critically endangered, and have somewhere between 200 to 300 individuals left in the country, Mengey said. The nests’ discovery is “very good news for our conservation”, Mengey said.

WCS has hired six community members, two per nest, to protect them, Mengey said.