Phnom Penh: The first comprehensive biodiversity survey of Virachey National Park, Cambodia, has revealed the vast array of species relying on the remote protected area, a critical step in strengthening the protection of this ecosystem.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, a recent joint press release in collaboration with Fauna and Flora, Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment, and local communities confirmed the presence of many threatened species, such as the red-shanked douc langur, Sunda pangolin, clouded leopard, dhole, and sun bear.

The survey also recorded a number of species for the first time in Cambodia, including the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac, two bat species, a species of glass lizard, a gecko, a flamboyant edible mushroom, and three plant species (an orchid, an arum, and a ginger). Additionally, three species of frog recorded during the survey had only been seen in Cambodia once, and two of these had never been seen as adults.

Virachey National Park is a relatively untouched haven for biodiversity with an area of approximately 110,000 hectares through Laos, Vietnam, and northeast Cambodia and is home to a vast range of species found nowhere else in the world-many of which are yet to be discovered.

H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Cambodian Minister of Environment, highlighted the importance of the biodiversity survey work as laid out in the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028, stating that the survey’s results underscore the richness and importance of this protected area. He emphasized the dedication of Ministry of Environment rangers, Fauna and Flora researchers, and local communities in achieving the most comprehensive overview of the park’s wildlife, which will inform sustainable management strategies.

Pablo Sinovas, Country Director of Fauna and Flora Cambodia Programme, noted that Virachey National Park is a sensational biodiversity hotspot facing threats such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and snaring. He stressed the need for strengthened management and community support to ensure the forest’s protection in a way that benefits both people and nature. The biodiversity data collected over the past three years is crucial for designing targeted conservation strategies and supporting indigenous communities in sustainable forest use.

Despite its size and strategic importance, Virachey National Park has been relatively understudied due to access challenges. The new survey employed various techniques to record rare wildlife in remote environments. Sinovas emphasized the park’s role in storing carbon and mitigating climate change, highlighting the need for continued collaboration with partners and local communities for preservation efforts.

The Virachey National Park biodiversity survey was funded by the Darwin Initiative, the British Embassy in Phnom Penh, Franklinia, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, and Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, with financial support from the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) Lower Mekong Landscape project, funded by UK International Development.