Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Environment is partnering with other wildlife organizations to conserve the habitats of the kingdom’s cranes. They are considered to be the world's tallest flying birds, growing to a height of about 1.76m, with a wingspan of 2.5m. Concerns are being raised about their falling numbers.

Ministry of Environment spokesman, Mr. Net Pheaktra, says the census between 2019 and 2020 recorded just 194 of them in 10 different locations. He says, "the number of cranes has dropped dramatically in recent years due to high mortality rates and low fertility rates. Other factors are also affecting them such as pesticide pollution, declining food presence, irrigation system modifications, infectious diseases, theft of eggs or cranes from nests to raise or trade, and climate change." Pheaktra has added that they are working on increasing patrols in protected areas where cranes are endangered and studying the effects of climate change.

Deputy Director-General of the General Department of Nature Protection and Conservation, Ms. Sun Leang, says the cranes have to work too hard to find food during dry season between December and April. She says this is a non-breeding season for them. The cranes are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to research, there are currently between 13,000 and 15,000 cranes in the world, found mainly in India, Australia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.