PHNOM PENH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Camera traps have recently captured 20 rare wildlife species in sanctuaries in Cambodia's southwestern Koh Kong province, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Environment Neth Pheaktra said on Monday.
Camera traps were deployed at 34 locations in sanctuaries from Aug. 8 to Nov. 14, he said in a news release.
"Twenty rare wildlife species as well as many other mammals and birds have been recorded by camera traps," Pheaktra said.
Those rare species included pangolins, hairy-nosed otters, dholes, Northern pig-tailed macaques, long-tailed macaques, fishing cats, hog badgers, leopard cats, East Asian porcupines, red muntjacs, common palm civets, Bengal monitor lizards, oriental pied hornbills, and silver pheasants, among others, according to the official.
"The presence of different wildlife species in Cambodia's protected areas clearly reflects joint efforts made by the government, development partners, organizations and local communities in protecting and conserving natural resources, forests and wildlife in Cambodia," he said.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia has designated 76 protected areas and biodiversity corridors across the Southeast Asian country.
