Phnom Penh Aug 17 (IANS) A camera trap has recorded the presence of 30 large mammal species in Cambodia s Preah Vihear province the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said in a statement on Thursday.
The biodiversity captured in the images demonstrates the extent to which Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary is critical to the conservation of these mammals Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.
"The results confirm the continued occurrence of large mammals such as Eld s deer banteng elephants and jungle cats " said Ai Suzuki a conservationist from Kyoto University of Japan who conducted the research with WCS.
Species recorded in the study included: endangered Asian elephants Indochinese silvered langurs Eld s deer banteng endangered large-spotted civets vulnerable clouded leopards gaur Asiatic black bears sun bears and Northern pig-tailed macaques.
While Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many rare species and provide a host of ecosystem services it also faces many threats including illegal logging forest clearing and habitat conversion the statement said.
Alistair Mould WCS s technical advisor to Northern Plains of Cambodia said the unique area of forest represents both a vital habitat for globally endangered wildlife and a natural wildlife corridor.
--IANS
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