Bears preservation center at Phnom Ta Mao zoo (Photo: AFP)By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
An official of the Ta Mao national zoo announced on Wednesday 11 June a plan to release bears back to nature, following a re-acquaintance period with wilderness.
86 bears of all age, confiscated from anti-wild animal trafficking raids, or surrendered by private parties, will return to their natural habitat, the zoo communiqué stated.
Some of these bears were kept by private parties in spite of a law in 2002 preventing such practice. Oknha Mong Reththy (one of Hun Sen’s friends and cronies) set the example by turning a bear he kept at home to the zoo.
Nhek Ratanak Pich, the zoo director, explained about the difficulties encountered to release these bears. Caged, fed in cage with artificial foods, sometimes for several years, these bears would be unable to survive if they are not trained to find food on their own in nature first. “We need time and money before being able to release these bears back into the forest,” he added. He indicated that the upkeep of these numerous bears also increased the cost to the zoo.
86 bears of all age, confiscated from anti-wild animal trafficking raids, or surrendered by private parties, will return to their natural habitat, the zoo communiqué stated.
Some of these bears were kept by private parties in spite of a law in 2002 preventing such practice. Oknha Mong Reththy (one of Hun Sen’s friends and cronies) set the example by turning a bear he kept at home to the zoo.
Nhek Ratanak Pich, the zoo director, explained about the difficulties encountered to release these bears. Caged, fed in cage with artificial foods, sometimes for several years, these bears would be unable to survive if they are not trained to find food on their own in nature first. “We need time and money before being able to release these bears back into the forest,” he added. He indicated that the upkeep of these numerous bears also increased the cost to the zoo.
