Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Animals destined for Phnom Penh rescued in Koh Kong

Animals destined for Phnom Penh rescued in Koh Kong

Officials collect turtles in Koh Kong province on Friday after they were confiscated in Koh Kong province. Wildlife Alliance
Officials collect turtles in Koh Kong province on Friday after they were confiscated in Koh Kong province. Wildlife Alliance

Animals destined for Phnom Penh rescued in Koh Kong

Koh Kong’s Southern Cardamom rangers recently rescued 77 animals bound for Phnom Penh restaurants, Wildlife Alliance (WA) revealed yesterday.

Acting on an informant’s tip, 16 WA and Forestry Administration rangers raided buildings in Sre Ambel district and found 61 turtles and tortoises, 11 monitor lizards, four civet cats and one soft-shell turtle being held alive.

A suspect escaped but the authorities know his identity and are preparing to summon him to court. He faces at least a $3,000 fine.

“For this case, the client wants the animals killed prior to being delivered to Phnom Penh restaurants and shops,” WA said in a message yesterday.

Several soft-shell turtle species living in Southeast Asia are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Provincial Forestry Administration director Oum Makary confirmed the raid yesterday but had not yet received an official report. Rescued animals were typically released back into the forest, he said.

Separately, a joint force raided a restaurant in Pursat’s Krakor district last week, confiscating more than 226 kilograms of meat from animals including the red muntjac, leopard cat, soft-shell turtle, porcupine, water monitor, snakes and rabbits, according to the Forestry Administration.

Under Cambodian law, it is illegal to hunt and consume wildlife but poaching remains a serious problem.

Additional reporting by Igor Kossov

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom