World’s rarest species confirmed in Cambodia

The Asiatic golden cat captured on camera at the Virachey National Park in Ratanakiri province. MoE

An Asiatic golden cat, a rare species in the world, has been captured on camera by experts at the Virachey National Park in Ratanakiri province.

The Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is a medium-sized wild cat in the family of eight tigers that have been in Cambodia and is now spotted again. It is in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened species.

Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra said they have automatic cameras installed strategically at the Virachey National Park, an Asean Natural Heritage Park, to capture images of rare wildlife species which is then viewed by a research team from the ministry’s Department of Nature Conservation every three months with the last footage reviewed from March to May.

He said it was during this viewing that the research team spotted an image of the Asiatic golden cat.

He added there is very little record on Asiatic golden cats as they were spotted previously in Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary, Phnom Prech Wildlife Sanctuary and in the Cardamom Mountains, now in Virachey National Park.

“We are now sure that this rare species is present in Cambodia,” he said, adding the Kingdom has taken all proactive measures to protect all the wildlife animals and species including the rarest species in the world in its forests.

As to the finding of the Dhole, a species of Asiatic wild dogs now classified as a globally endangered species, Pheaktra said they were spotted in the eastern highlands and central Cardamom Mountains.

He added the recent finding of Dholes has created some excitement among conservationists and environmentalists.

He said the animals were captured on camera the past few months in the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in Pursat province and in the Virachey National Park in Ratanakiri province.

Pheaktra added that the discovery of many rare animals, including wild dogs in Cambodia, shows that protected areas are well protected and conserved and have become a rich habitat.

“We will continue efforts to protect the forest, which is home to wildlife. Cambodia is very proud to have the world’s rarest and most endangered species,” he added.

Department of Nature Conservation of the East Mekong River’s research team head Pin Chanratana said that the Asiatic golden cat weighs about nine to sixteen kilogrammes and mostly eats rodents such as squirrels and mice, lizards, birds, reptiles and deer.

“The Asiatic golden cat lives in dense forests, semi-dense forests and mixed forests in some protected areas in the northeast, north, and southwest of Cambodia. There is not much research on this species,” he added.

There are eight species of wild cats in Cambodia, namely tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, fishing cat, Asiatic golden cat, marbled cat, Indochine leopard and leopard cat.

Chanratana said the Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus) is a large mammal and classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

“These wild dogs live in dense forests, semi-dense forests and mixed forests in some protected areas in the northeast, north and southwest of Cambodia,” he added. Khmer Times