Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Skeleton of gaur found at Oddar Meanchey sanctuary

Skeleton of gaur found at Oddar Meanchey sanctuary

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The gaur’s skeleton was found at a sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey province. Environment Ministry

Skeleton of gaur found at Oddar Meanchey sanctuary

Environment officers said foul play is not suspected in the death of a gaur on Saturday at Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey province.

There was no evidence that it died from being trapped or shot. Only its skeleton remained, as found by environment officers and forest rangers during a patrol on Sunday.

However, its head and some parts of its skeleton were missing. The remaining parts of the skeleton were collected by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) office. The gaur is said to have died about two months ago.

Oddar Meanchey provincial environment department director Phuong Lina told The Post that it is the first time a gaur was found dead at the sanctuary, which is under strict conservation and protection.

Experts are investigating the reason for its death. There is no specific assumption whether it was killed or died naturally.

“We don’t know the specific reason for its death. The gaur was old as parts of its skeleton are big. Forest in this area is conserved strictly. We have many forces who take part in patrols, such as forest rangers and the WCS,” he said.

The sanctuary occupies 402,500ha of land located in Preah Vihear, Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces.

This sanctuary consists of rare animals such as banteng, sambar deer, bears, elephants and gaurs. In the past, rangers reported seeing herds of gaur and individual ones in the area, Lina said.

In the past, environment officers and WCS found traps, but they were not for large wild animals like gaurs. They were mostly for trapping wild boars, he said.

In March, environment officers and WCS officials found a dead gaur that was trapped by hunters at the Southern Cardamom National Park in Veal Veng district, Pursat province.

In May, a five-year-old gaur was shot and only its head was left behind in Prey Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear province.

It’s estimated that about 21,000 gaurs are living in India and Southeast Asia. Gaurs are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list (IUCN).

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.