Cambodia and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in biodiversity conservation and sustainable wildlife management strategies for the rehabilitation of tigers and their habitats in Cambodia.

The signing ceremony was held with Minister of Environment Say Samal and Indian ambassador to Cambodia Devyani Khobragade on November 12.

The MoU will benefit both countries on a number of issues, including promoting biodiversity and the conservation and rehabilitation of tigers in Cambodia, especially in key landscape areas, such as the Cardamom Mountains and the eastern highlands.

India can provide tigers through its breeding programmes and will assist with the cooperation on protecting the tigers so that they can return to live in the natural forests successfully.

Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said Cambodia has participated in the international programme since 2010, resulting in a doubling of the number of tigers in the wild by this year and action plan on tigers (2015-2024).

"The Cambodian government supports the tiger rehabilitation programme and political support for this programme has made the Kingdom the first country in the region in taking tigers back to the wild,” he said.