PURSAT: USAID Morodok Baitang conservation partner Rising Phoenix (RP) rescued a wild gaur from a trap while patrolling the forest this week.

According to the USAID Morodok Baitang’s official page, on 20 April 2023, the gaur was spotted by RP members while patrolling a protected area. To rescue the gaur, the team contacted a veterinarian to administer anaesthesia before the gaur’s legs could be pried from the trap.

Once the anaesthesia wore off, the gaur was released and safely returned to the wild. Gaur are the largest cattle species in the world and one of the largest living land mammals. They have been listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 1986.

Meanwhile, USAID Morodok Baitang (Khmer for ‘Green Heritage’) is working with conservation partners and the Ministry of Environment to carry out a “Zero Trap Campaign” which aims to end the illegal trapping and trade of wildlife in Cambodia. Phase one of the campaign started in 2022, while the second phase of the campaign started in March and intends to reach six more provinces, including Pursat.

In 2022, more than 35,000 traps were removed from protected areas throughout Cambodia, which shows a decrease of about 44% compared to 2021, when 61,611 traps were found.

USAID Morodok Baitang estimated that only 20% of the total traps have been removed from the protected areas, which means traps remain a high risk to the wildlife in Cambodia’s forests.