MONDULKIRI: Law enforcement teams spotted two endangered wild dogs at Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri province during patrol on December 13, 2023.

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is an ancient canine that predates wolves. With a population of just over 2,500, they are listed as endangered on the IUCN list. Dholes are highly social and tend to live in packs, hunting medium to large forest mammals.

The rare species suffers from trapping, habitat loss, and infectious diseases from domestic dogs. The Ministry of Environment is campaigning for people to stop eating wild animals and to refrain from taking dogs into the protected forests.

The forest ranger team consists of members of the Ministry and Department of Environment, community patrol and WWF law enforcement officers who work together to stop crime at the Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary to conserve wildlife resources for the next generation.