Wildlife make dramatic comeback to Cambodia wetlands

New surveys revealed a dramatic comeback for several spectacular waterbird species, otters, and other wildlife living in Prek Toal, a newly-designated Ramsar site on Cambodia's Tonle Sap Great Lake, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said on Saturday.

"Wildlife surveys have shown that species like lesser and greater adjutant storks, spot-billed pelicans, and Asian openbills have increased along with silver langur and two otter species," WCS said in a statement.

"More than 400 breeding pairs of lesser adjutant storks were recorded, while both the spot-billed pelican and Asian openbill had record breeding years in 2014 when the surveys were made," it said.

The surveys appeared in a report titled "Wildlife Monitoring at Prek Toal Ramsar Site, Tonle Sap Great Lake 2013-2014" by Sun Visal and Simon Mahood of WCS's Cambodia Program.

Prek Toal is considered to be the premier wetland site on Tonle Sap Great Lake, and last year was designated a Ramsar site, an international treaty on the protection of globally important wetlands.

WCS said the increase in wildlife began in the early 2000's when bird hunters were converted to nest protection rangers.

Camera trapping confirmed that both hairy-nosed and smooth-coated otter occur throughout the core area in good numbers, as a result of protection of the bird colony and dry-season streams.

The greater adjutant stork population remained around 150 pairs, which although low, makes it the largest colony of this species worldwide, the statement said, adding that a range of other bird species was recorded, including the endangered masked finfoot. Enditem