Cameras to Assess Prey Ahead of Tigers Return
- By Rin Ousa
- February 15, 2024 7:10 PM
PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of Environment will install additional cameras in the Cardamom Mountains to inspect the presence of prey ahead of the reintroduction of tigers.
The tigers, which will be imported from India, hunt large mammals including deer and wild boar.
The Ministry of Environment and Wildlife Alliance (WA) have set up 90 hectares of forest land in the Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary with metal fences, cages, ponds, and wildlife for the tigers’ diets before releasing them to the protected area.
Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya said installation of the cameras would start on Feb. 17 in 90 hectares.
“As the plan to hand over tigers to be released in the Cardamom Mountains is still in the preparation stage, we intend to see the import from India by the end of 2024 or at the beginning of 2025,” Atitya said.
Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth said, based on instructions from Indian technicians, cameras should be installed one kilometer apart. During the three months between the dry season and the rainy season, the cameras can capture images for experts to analyze the diets for reviving the tiger population.
“The camera installation will help provide specific data on wildlife resources whether it is sufficient for big tigers,” Sophalleth said.
“When there is insufficient food for tigers, this installation will help conservationists to come up with plans to breed additional wildlife or supply cow or buffalo.
“Additionally, conservationists are able to study the density and abundance of wildlife which could serve as tigers’ diets,” Sophalleth said.
Sophalleth said the ministry has collaborated with other organizations in camera installation. Starting from 2019 to 2023, cameras have been installed in 382 locations in the mountains, enabling the study of rare and endangered wildlife.
Partners include Wildlife Alliance, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, and Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project.
Being one of the rare species in Cambodia, tigers were last seen in 2007.
Cambodia and India signed a memorandum of understanding in 2022 on cooperation in biodiversity conservation, sustainable wildlife management, and restoration of tigers and their habitats.
In 2010, there were around 3,200 tigers in the world, a decrease of 95% compared to the early 20s when there were around 100,000.
The tiger is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as an endangered species.
