• Society

Conservationists Fear Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Lost

• By Lay Sopheavotey
• and Sam Sopich
• April 28, 2022 4:25 PM

Forest cleared in private company deal

PHNOM PENH – A wildlife protection group has asked Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene at Phnom Tamao Zoo as the protected area is undergoing forest clearing by a private company.

Takeo provincial authorities say the company has received the right to occupy land in Phnom Tamao from the government.

Nick Marx, director of the Wildlife Rescue and Care program, has taken a video to describe the animals in Tamao Zoo and to show his concern about losing the area.

Marx, who has worked in Cambodia for about 20 years, said Phnom Tamao’s land has been cleared with deforestation and destruction of wildlife sanctuaries and tourist sites.

“I and other conservationists requested Hun Sen to help protect Phnom Tamao as a safe haven for wildlife and a good natural recreation and tourist site near Phnom Penh for people,” he said.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said he had not been aware of the issue and had just heard about it.

Seng Lot, a spokesman for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, said he too was unaware of this matter. Both referred the matter to the Takeo provincial authorities.

However, Takeo provincial governor Ouch Phea said that he did not know about Phnom Tamao because this mountain is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon and the ministry’s spokesman Srey Vuthy could not be reached for comment at the press time.

However, Meas Uy, director of Takeo Provincial Administration, said that the Phnom Tamao area was transferred to a private company last month.

Land clearing and deforestation in Phnom Tamao were real, but he did not know the details because the area had been handed over to a private company.

“For Phnom Tamao, the state has transferred to the private sector. I do not remember how many hectares,” Meas Uy said. 

Kan Ra, the inter-sectoral manager of the provincial administration, and Takeo provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction director Nuon Sothea, attended a meeting on the delisting of Phnom Tamao for the private company last month.

But both said they did not remember the original content of the government's announcement.

However, Nuon Sothea said only part of Phnom Tamao had been transferred to a private company.

According to the website demo.cambodia.gov.kh, Phnom Tamao is a natural resort with temples, forests, mountains and a large zoo. This area is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture to plant trees. The 70-hectare zoo consists of five hills: Phnom Tamao, Phnom Thmor Dus, Phnom Pdao Poun, Phnom Chhay and Phnom Bang, as well as two ancient temples, Prasat Tamao (Phnom Tamao) and Prasat Thmor Dus (Phnom Thmor Dus).

Phnom Ta Mao Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center have many rare animals such as pythons, crocodiles, tigers, lions, elephants and bears.

The Office of the Council of Ministers announced in January that the government agreed in principle to transfer 500 hectares of Phnom Tamao land in Kandeung commune, Bati commune to Khmer Fresh Mill Co. Ltd.

The transfer had three conditions; first creating the Safari Angkor with 250 hectares in Banteay Srei and Svay Leu districts, including construction of the administration building, quarantine center, animal health care center, road, buying equipment and preparing electricity.

The second was establishment of Mondulkiri phytosanitary garden with 472,809 hectares in Orang district, including building a 20 hectare flower garden building, road and water system preparation, administration building, 30-room leisure building, nursery and flower nursery.

Third, buy one SUV, 3 Ford Raptors, 6 Ford Rangers, 20 motos and give 9,8 hectares land to build permanent homestay for 85 civil servant and staff workers of the Phnom Tamao Zoo and Animal Rescue Center.