AKP Phnom Penh, January 02, 2024 --  

A biodiversity team of the NatureLife Cambodia have spotted 22 sarus cranes at Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS) during their monitoring session.

According to NatureLife Cambodia’s news release on Dec. 31, the 22 Sarus Cranes, including 8 young birds, were sighted across 7 locations in LWS.

“This surpasses all previous counts at the Sanctuary, including the previous high count of 16 from last season,” underlined the source.

This remarkable milestone is a testament to the success of ongoing biodiversity conservation efforts, a perfect way to bid farewell to 2024 and step into 2025 with hope and commitment, it continued.

The 22 Sarus Cranes, including their young, were observed flying, calling, foraging, and enjoying the LWS, setting another record for the winter census, said NatureLife Cambodia, adding that Lomphat has become a favoured site for them, one of the few places where the Mekong Basin population breed, raise young, even staying over winter.

USAID Morodok Baitang in collaboration with NatureLife Cambodia Organisation, the Ministry of Environment, and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, have been implementing various Sarus Crane conservation efforts, including nest monitoring, forest patrols, wildlife-friendly agriculture and more. Sarus Crane conservation is one of many activities boosted by the implementation of the LWS REDD+ Project, which aims to benefit biodiversity, local culture and livelihoods, as well as the atmosphere through the preservation of the standing forests.

The Sarus Crane species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; however, the Southeast Asian subspecies, which includes the Mekong Basin population, is at risk of extinction, with fewer than 50 nesting pairs remaining last year due to habitat loss and other threats.

NatureLife Cambodia called on the public to protect these iconic birds – the symbol of Loyal Love and Fidelity – and safeguard their future by spreading the word to our friends, family, and networks.

Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary, established by a Royal Decree in 1993, covers a total land area of 250,000 hectares, about 80 percent of which is located in Rattanakiri province and the rest 20 percent in Mondulkiri province. It is an important site for the conservation of wildlife and bio-diversity resources, especially rare and endangered bird species.

By Phal Sophanith (Photo: NatureLife Cambodia)