Kampong Speu: On Saturday an Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus), was rescued by a villager from a trap set by poachers and handed over to rangers at Cardamom Mountain National Park office in Kampong Speu province.

Park officials have taken the young cub to the Oral Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary for safekeeping.

The black bear is considered to be rare, endangered and a protected species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), included the Asian black bear on its red list of threatened species.

The animals’ habitat has been lost due to logging, expansion of human settlements, roadway networks, building of hydro-power stations, combined with hunting for skins, paws and especially for its gall bladders.