Cambodia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 569

Ironically, peace brought increased threats as loggers felled huge areas of primary forest
and the illicit trade in wildlife targeted endangered species.
Still, with more than 200 species of mammal, Cambodia has some of Southeast Asia's
best wildlife-watching opportunities. Highlights include spotting gibbons and black-
shanked doucs (langurs) in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces, and viewing some of the
last remaining freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.
Globally threatened species that you stand a slight chance of seeing include the Asian
elephant, banteng (a wild ox), gaur, clouded leopard, fishing cat, marbled cat, sun bear,
Siamese crocodile and pangolin. Asian tigers were once commonplace but are now ex-
ceedingly rare - the last sighting was in about 2007.
The country is a birdwatcher's paradise - feathered friends found almost exclusively in
Cambodia include the giant ibis, white-shouldered ibis, Bengal florican, sarus crane and
three species of vulture. The Siem Reap-based Sam Veasna Center MAP GOOGLE MAP (
063-963710; www.samveasna.org ) runs birding trips.
Environmental Issues
Cambodia's pristine environment is a big draw for adventurous ecotourists, but much of it
is currently under threat. Ancient forests are being razed to make way for plantations,
rivers are being sized up for major hydroelectric power plants and the south coast is being
explored by leading oil companies. Places like the Cardamom Mountains are in the front
line and it remains to be seen whether the environmentalists or the economists will win
the debate.
The greatest threat is illegal logging, carried out to provide charcoal and timber, and to
clear land for cash-crop plantations. The environmental watchdog Global Witness
( www.globalwitness.org ) publishes meticulously documented exposés on corrupt military and
civilian officials and their well-connected business partners.
In the short term, deforestation is contributing to worsening floods along the Mekong,
but the long-term implications of deforestation are mind-boggling. Siltation, combined
with overfishing and pollution, may lead to the eventual death of Tonlé Sap lake, a cata-
strophe for future generations of Cambodians.
Throughout the country, pollution is a problem, and detritus of all sorts, especially
plastic bags and bottles, can be seen in distressing quantities all over the country.