Cambodian Kouprey (Ko Prey - Bos sauveli)The Nation (Thailand)
Fri, September 1, 2006
Wild oxen resembling the kouprey, a wild species believed to be the most endangered large mammal in the world, have been spotted deep in the jungle near to where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia meet, the head of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Variety Conservation Department said.
Damrong Phidetch said he recently received a report that park rangers in Phu Jong Na Yoi National Park in Ubon Ratchathani saw three wild cattle that looked like gaur but with longer, more beautiful and fearsome horns. Experts believed the three oxen to be kouprey (Bos sauveli), Damrong said.
If the animals were proven to be kouprey, said Damrong, it would be very good news for wildlife experts. It has been more than six decades since the last sighting.
Their natural habitat restricted to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, kouprey have always been targeted by hunters due to their strong, beautiful horns. However, decades of fighting during the Indochina War are believed to be the major reason for its entry into the list of endangered species.
Many Thais know the animal only by seeing its horns, which were collected by Boonsong Lekakul, known as Thailand's father of conservation. Before becoming a conservationist, Boonsong was a renowned hunter who was able to track down kouprey. The last time anyone saw one of the animals alive was in 1940, when a kouprey displayed in the Vicennes Zoo in Paris died from starvation.
Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, a biologist who completed his PhD in banteng conservation biology, said it was possible the three oxen were kouprey. (Banteng is another species of wild cattle.)
"Wild cattle specialists believe kouprey still inhabit the area, particularly in the jungles of Cambodia, but no one has been able to survey the area because of land-mines," said Theerapat, who is also a member of the Wild Cattle Specialists Group, which comprises biologists from various countries who are interested in wild cattle.
Kouprey, banteng and gaur are in the same family of wild cattle. Theerapat said males of the three species could be distinguished by their horns, but it was difficult to distinguish the females from each other.
However, Surapol Duangkhae, secretary-general of the Wildlife Fund Thailand - which uses a picture of the kouprey as its logo - said it was very unlikely that the oxen seen by the park rangers were kouprey. He called on the Wildlife Department to conduct an investigation.
Panya Bunyaadulyakij, head of Phu Jong Na Yoi National Park, said he had asked all of his park rangers to carry cameras with them when they go out on patrol, in case they sight the animal.
Damrong Phidetch said he recently received a report that park rangers in Phu Jong Na Yoi National Park in Ubon Ratchathani saw three wild cattle that looked like gaur but with longer, more beautiful and fearsome horns. Experts believed the three oxen to be kouprey (Bos sauveli), Damrong said.
If the animals were proven to be kouprey, said Damrong, it would be very good news for wildlife experts. It has been more than six decades since the last sighting.
Their natural habitat restricted to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, kouprey have always been targeted by hunters due to their strong, beautiful horns. However, decades of fighting during the Indochina War are believed to be the major reason for its entry into the list of endangered species.
Many Thais know the animal only by seeing its horns, which were collected by Boonsong Lekakul, known as Thailand's father of conservation. Before becoming a conservationist, Boonsong was a renowned hunter who was able to track down kouprey. The last time anyone saw one of the animals alive was in 1940, when a kouprey displayed in the Vicennes Zoo in Paris died from starvation.
Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, a biologist who completed his PhD in banteng conservation biology, said it was possible the three oxen were kouprey. (Banteng is another species of wild cattle.)
"Wild cattle specialists believe kouprey still inhabit the area, particularly in the jungles of Cambodia, but no one has been able to survey the area because of land-mines," said Theerapat, who is also a member of the Wild Cattle Specialists Group, which comprises biologists from various countries who are interested in wild cattle.
Kouprey, banteng and gaur are in the same family of wild cattle. Theerapat said males of the three species could be distinguished by their horns, but it was difficult to distinguish the females from each other.
However, Surapol Duangkhae, secretary-general of the Wildlife Fund Thailand - which uses a picture of the kouprey as its logo - said it was very unlikely that the oxen seen by the park rangers were kouprey. He called on the Wildlife Department to conduct an investigation.
Panya Bunyaadulyakij, head of Phu Jong Na Yoi National Park, said he had asked all of his park rangers to carry cameras with them when they go out on patrol, in case they sight the animal.
3 comments:
Ah..so this is what and how "Kouprey" looks like?..Well this reminds me of what "mee Katop" Trudy Jacobsen, the Viet's sympathizer, was talking about when blasting at Khmer people as being racist for using the word "YUON"..lol! "Mee YUON KATOP" Trudy Jacobsen said maybe a "Kouprey" like her can fly?..I still firmly believe that Mee Yuon Katop JACOBSEN just can't, because she can't possibly know khmer more than Khmers themselves can, and instead mee KATOP Yuon Trudy Jacobsen is nothing more than just a CASH COW.
Nota Ben: CASH COW - The expression is a metaphor for a dairy cow, which after being acquired can be milked on an ongoing basis with little expense.
P.s. Mr. Kenneth So, please forgive me for using such words against your advice. I just can't help it.
08/31/06
AKnijaKhmer
The modern cattle had been infested with many disease from mad cow disease, foot mouth disease, and Bovine Johne's disease...
The Cambodian Kouprey may hold the key DNA that has some resistance to many of these disease! If Cambodian Kouprey can cross breed with the modern cattle then it save billion dollar beef industry!
Who want to be a billionaire?
In 1980 after invasion of Cambodia, the Vietcong were so busy looking for Kouprey! The Vietcong want to save their cattle industry! They had no luck because many places in Cambodia were infested with landmines!
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