By Mary Kate McCoy
October 30, 2024
Caught on camera: New study reveals a refuge for rare wildlife
6 min
The Central Cardamom Mountains are some of Southeast Asia’s most pristine expanses of wilderness — long considered a refuge for rare species.
Researchers say the study confirms the critical conservation value of the Central Cardamom range, where Conservation International, alongside the Chourng and Por Indigenous communities, has worked for more than two decades to protect wildlife habitats and support sustainable livelihoods.
The findings hint at an even greater treasure trove of biodiversity.
“Capturing images of 108 species on the camera traps is impressive,” said Thaung Ret, an ecologist and Conservation International’s lead researcher in Cambodia. “Yet that represents only a fraction of the animals present — think about the insects, canopy birds and aquatic species that are out of the camera’s view.”
Camera traps are widely used to monitor biodiversity and guide conservation. Activated by motion or infrared sensors, they allow scientists to observe animals in their natural habitats.
With data in hand, Ret and other researchers hope their findings will help expand protections and curtail the growing threat of poaching and deforestation in the area.
“Before, in many ways, we were working blind,” Ret said. “This study has allowed us to ‘see’ into the forest. Now we have the proof, and we can focus our efforts and protect this globally important sanctuary.”
Here are glimpses of the wildlife the team uncovered:
With long arms that allow it to swing from branch to branch at speeds of up to 56 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour), the pileated gibbon is an iconic species in the region — and a standout find for Ret. It is extremely rare to see these shy primates on the ground, as they prefer to be high in the forest. When they aren’t sleeping (pileated gibbons can snooze for 16 hours per day), they travel long distances, rarely staying in the same tree from one night to the next.
Sunda pangolin
Sun bear
Named for the golden patches of fur on its chest — which are said to resemble the rising sun — the sun bear is the smallest of all bear species, measuring up to 1.5 meters (5 feet long). With a 10-inch-long tongue made for snatching honey from beehives, these nocturnal creatures love the treetops, where they often build nests.
With fewer than 2,500 remaining in the wild, dholes are one of the region’s last remaining apex predators, Ret said. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to their survival, yet disease and human incursion also pose problems. The wild dogs are susceptible to diseases passed on by domestic dogs that encroach on their habitat.
The largest of the world’s wild bovines, gaur are close relatives of domestic cattle. They were once found all over Southeast Asia, but today their range has been dramatically reduced, mainly due to agricultural expansion.
Asian elephant
Asian elephants are revered as cultural icons and deities. They also play an important role as ecosystem engineers, traveling vast distances and carving new paths through dense brush, while spreading seeds that restore forests. Ret and the other researchers hope their popularity will draw greater attention to their plight — and that of other endangered species in the region.
“All of these species are connected, and they play a vital role in the Cardamom’s ecosystem,” Ret said. “To be able to document this stunning amount of life is a real privilege. But we’ve just scratched the surface, the more we learn about the rich web of life in this area, the better we’ll be able to protect it.”
This species monitoring project was largely funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through USAID Morodok Baitang Activity, with additional co-financing from Conservation International, the Legacy Landscape Fund and the Procter & Gamble Company and the leadership provided by the Ministry of Environment. The contents of this study are the sole responsibility of Conservation International and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
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