Rivers and Wetlands

By WCS Cambodia

November 25^th, 2024

Koh Kong Province supports forested mountains, riverine habitats, and mangroves. Since rediscovering the Critically Endangered Southern River Terrapin in 2000, WCS and the Fisheries Administration (FiA) have worked in the Sre Ambel River system to conserve the turtles and Siamese crocodiles.

Southern River Terrapin

Locally known as the Royal Turtle, this Critically Endangered species is considered one of the world’s 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles. The Royal Turtle is so named because, in historical times, only the Royal Family could consume its eggs. In 2005, the species was designated Cambodia’s National Reptile by Royal Decree.

WCS and the Fisheries Administration are working with local communities to protect nests of Royal Turtle on the Sre Ambel River System, the only place where it remains in the wild. Hatchlings are transferred to the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, where they are raised until they are large enough for release. Our post-release monitoring is some of the most sophisticated in the world and has demonstrated that more than 80 percent of head-started turtles survive their first year in the wild.

Siamese Crocodile

This Critically Endangered species is almost extinct in Cambodia. However, Cambodia supports one of the biggest populations in the world! We work with communities to protect wetlands where they breed, and we found our first nest in 2017.

Mekong Turtle Conservation

The Endangered Asian Giant Softshell Turtle was considered extinct in Cambodia until it was rediscovered in 2007 in a 48-kilometer stretch of the Mekong River in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces. WCS has recently begun working on conserving this species, continuing a community-based protection program that encourages local communities to protect nests instead of harvesting and selling them.

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