Phnom Penh: Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra, serving as the Honorary President of the Airavata Elephant Foundation, led a delegation to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre to visit the rescued elephant calf “Somnang Lomphat.”

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the purpose of the visit was to show support for wildlife conservation and to provide financial assistance for the calf’s ongoing care. The calf, approximately five months old and named “Somnang Lomphat” (meaning “Lucky Lomphat”), was rescued on December 8, 2024. It was found in Koh Nhek district after being separated from its mother and sustaining injuries from a poacher’s snare.

The Wildlife Alliance and park rangers acted swiftly to transport the injured calf to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre on December 10, 2024. Since its arrival, the calf has been receiving necessary treatment and care. Members of the Airavata Elephant Foundation expressed their satisfaction with the calf’s improving health, noting that the snare wound has healed approximately 90 percent due to the dedicated efforts of the wildlife rescue team.

H.E. Minister Neth Pheaktra, who has been a prominent figure in the “Zero Snaring Campaign” during the sixth mandate of the Royal Government, emphasized the importance of public involvement in the fight against snares to ensure the safety of both humans and wildlife. He described snares as “silent killers” that pose a significant threat to wildlife, often leaving survivors with severe injuries.

The Minister expressed his contentment with the successful rescue of “Somnang Lomphat,” underscoring the awareness it has created about the dangers of snares and the continuous need for wildlife protection measures.