Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Bird survey shows white-shoulder ibis comeback

Bird survey shows white-shoulder ibis comeback

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
White-shoulder Ibis are found in the Mekong River’s flooded forests in Sambor Wildlife Sanctuary in Kratie province. WWF CAMBODIA

Bird survey shows white-shoulder ibis comeback

A biodiversity team from Conservation International Cambodia (CI Cambodia) is surveying and identifying birds in the Central Cardamom Mountains National Park, while wildlife research teams from the Ministry of Environment and World Wide Fund for Nature Cambodia (WWF Cambodia) – with participation from members of local communities – recorded the presence of white-shouldered ibis in Sambo Wildlife Sanctuary in Kratie province.

Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra confirmed to The Post on August 24 that the survey and identification was being carried out in collaboration with several international organisations.

Pheaktra said the study aimed to find out which species were present.

“We are implementing carbon credit projects in these areas, so we need a detailed survey. We will discover which animals are present – and in what numbers. We may even discover species which require further study,” he said.

He added that the research teams had worked with local communities and recorded a total of 324 white-shouldered ibis with 17 roosting sites.

He said this was the highest number recorded of these rare species in the past 10 years.

“Separately, in the eastern landscape forest, the team recorded seven of these magnificent birds and 22 potential roosting sites. This is a positive sign for these endangered birds,” he added.

The survey counts the total number of this breed of ibis in all natural habitats in the Kingdom.

The Mekong flood forests currently support the second-largest number of white-shoulder ibis, with 252 recorded.

According to a statement issued by CI Cambodia on August 23, the team found nearly 20 species of birds in the central Cardamom park, most of which are endangered species.

“Those birds include the lineated barbet (Megalaima lineata), blue-eared barbet (Megalaima australis), green-eared barbet (Megalaima faiostricta), great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), black and red broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos), dusky broadbill (Corydon sumatranus), black-hooded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus), asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella), siamese fireback (Lophura diardi), red-headed trogon (Harpactes erythocephalus), blue-bearded bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni), asian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), rufous woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus ), great slaty woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus), white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus) and the blue-winged leafbird (Chloropsis cochinchinensis),” the statement said.

Thong Reth, coordinator for biodiversity and science at CI Cambodia who conducted one of the field studies, told The Post on August 24 that some unidentified birds had been found in the area.

She expected the discovery to be one of the most important in recent years.

“If it was not for the cooperation of the ministry and partner international organisations, we would be facing the loss of many rare birds. The current survey found that the central Cardamom mountains are still rich in biodiversity – and not just of birds. There are many other rare species living there,” she said.

She hoped the discovery of so many rare birds in the area would encourage the local populations and the general public to participate more in their conservation.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry using ChatGPT AI to ‘ease workload’; Khmer version planned

    The Digital Government Committee is planning to make a Khmer language version of popular artificial intelligence (AI) technology ChatGPT available to the public in the near future, following extensive testing. On March 9, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications revealed that it has been using the

  • Rare plant fetches high prices from Thai, Chinese

    Many types of plants found in Cambodia are used as traditional herbs to treat various diseases, such as giloy or guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) or aromatic/sand ginger (Kaempferia galangal) or rough cocklebur (Xanthium Strumartium). There is also a plant called coral, which is rarely grown

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while