Phase II, year 2 of 'zero snaring' to disarm traps, raise awareness

• Published date: 10 March 2023
• Publication title: The Phnom Penh Post

In the two years from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022, park rangers removed a total of 96,357 traps and snares from the Kingdom's protected areas and also seized 1,416 firearms, according to Ministry of Environment secretary of state Neth Pheaktra.

Pheaktra revealed the figures at a March 2 press conference, where he announced the second phase of the ministry's zero-snaring campaign.

He said the confiscated snares and firearms were the result of the rangers' - and their partner organisations' - efforts to protect nearly 7.3 million hectares of protected land, including 73 protected areas and three biodiversity corridors.

'The majority of the traps were discovered in the Cardamom Mountains in Koh Kong and Pursat and in the northeastern provinces of Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri and Stung Treng. The removal of these snares made a major contribution to saving the wildlife of the Kingdom's forests,' he said.

'Although we cannot remove all the traps, it is important that we try. Many trapped or injured animals have been released back into the wild, or transported to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre for treatment,' he added.

The ministry, in collaboration with several partner organisations, launched the second phase of the zero-snaring campaign on March 3 to coincide with World Wildlife Day.

'Protecting wildlife not only balances the environment, but also attracts tourism. Today, Cambodia has shifted from logging for money to preserving its forests to generate incomes from the sale of carbon credits and eco-tourism,' he added.

'There is more to it than just the trees. The zero-snare campaign will improve the safety of all forest dwelling animals and improve the biodiversity of protected areas. In addition, when animals are free to follow their migratory habits, they are more likely to successfully reproduce, increasing the population' he continued.

He also warned of the dangers of bush meat, saying there are a number of possible illnesses that could be transferred to humans through consumption.

Jackson Frechette, Conservation International (CI) programme director for the Greater Mekong...