Hun Sen Visits Zoo, Calls for Tough Action on Poaching

phnom tamao, Takeo province – Before feeding slabs of meat to tigers and riding an elephant, Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday ordered authorities to clamp down on poaching and trafficking in wildlife to conserve Cambodia’s endangered species.

“I would like to call for those who have continued illegal logging and illegal trafficking of wildlife, please immediately stop your unthinkable actions because it is contrary to our nation’s interest,” he said at the inauguration of the Tamao zoo here.

Though the zoo has been open for several years, it has never had an official opening and the Wild­life Protection Office, which runs the zoo, is hoping to boost government interest in wildlife conservation efforts.

Hun Sen called on neighboring countries to work with Cambodia in cracking down on poaching. “We have to have cooperation along the border to protect wild animals,” he said.

Many animals, including turtles, snakes, birds and tigers, are poached in Cambodia and taken overland to markets in other countries. In recent years, China has become a massive consumer of wildlife from Southeast Asia.

Cambodia will host a conference of 45 Asian nations Feb 21-24 on the wildlife trade. The group will discuss which species should be added to the Con­vention on International Trade in Endangered Species of flora and fauna.

Agriculture Minister Chhea Song said that while measures have been taken to crack down on poaching and wildlife trafficking, the practice continues.

Wildlife in Cambodia cannot be effectively conserved until a clear wildlife law is passed, Hun Sen said. Even when poachers are caught, they are rarely prosecuted because of holes in the current law.

The Phnom Tamao Zoological Gardens and Rescue Center, 45 km south of Phnom Penh, is a testament to Cambodia’s thriving wildlife trade.

It is one of the few places in Cambodia where confiscated animals can be taken and cared for. Many animals were brought to the zoo badly injured or ill from poor treatment.

The zoo currently has about 500 animals and birds from 86 species. Spread over the 1,500-hectare grounds are cages holding everything from tigers and banteng to cranes, bears and otters. One of the main attractions at the zoo is a baby elephant, recently claimed from CPP parliamentarian Nhem Vanda’s private zoo.

Before boarding his helicopter to leave the zoo, Hun Sen released several animals into their new enclosures then climbed atop a larger elephant for a ride through the grounds, followed by government officials and diplomats riding in ox carts.

 

 

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