PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged lawmakers to amend the law that stipulates that citizens cannot raise rare and endangered animals at home without authorization from the Forestry Administration, as he said this restriction prevents people from breeding and raising more endangered animals.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for nearly 5,000 students of the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, and inauguration of two school buildings on Wednesday morning, 1 March 2023, the Prime Minister said, “We can amend the law to allow people to raise endangered animals, because if the current law is put into force, the first to be convicted will be the Cambodian Prime Minister, who has raised more peacocks than there are people in Kampong Chhnang province," he said.
He emphasized that allowing people to raise rare animals at home would not result in a loss, because the owners may arrange for there to be a place where the public can come and visit these rare animals.
"The owners can also earn money from tourists who want to see these animals," he remarked.
The Prime Minister confirmed that when he ordered for the peacocks seized by the Forestry Administration to be returned to their owner on Tuesday night, he also sent a donation of 10 million riel to the family.
"My goal is to help the family improve their livelihood, and I also want the family to use this donation to improve the appearance of their animal enclosure for people who wish to visit the animals," he clarified.
The Prime Minister ordered for the peacocks to be returned by the Forestry Administration to the rightful owners in Baribo district of Kampong Chhnang province on Tuesday afternoon, 28 February, and the return was made at around 5:30 pm the same day.
According to Article 48 of the Forestry Law, all species of wildlife in Cambodia are the property of the state and regarded as forest resources. This includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, invertebrates, as well as animal eggs.
All wildlife in Cambodia are under the control and conservation of the Forestry Administration, excluding fish and aquatic animals. According to the law, wildlife specimens, including dead animals (whether whole, internal, external, bone fragments or processed products) are all under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Administration. All wildlife is divided into three species categories: endangered, rare, and moderately endangered.
Pursuant to Article 93 of the Law on Forestry, the perpetrators of Class II forest crimes shall be imprisoned for one to five years, shall be fined between 10 to 100 million riel and all exhibits shall be confiscated as state property.
