Cambodia News, (Kratie): Great news from the WWF this week! New camera trap photos set in Kratie province have confirmed the survival of Hog Deer in Cambodia.


On 25th February 2020, with support from the Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation (BINCO), research and law enforcement teams from Kratie Provincial Department of Environment, Kratie Forestry Administration, and WWF went to check the camera traps they set up in Prek Prasab Wildlife Sanctuary, hoping for sightings of the rare Hog deer. The team were elated to find several photos of these timid animals, which confirms the continuing survival of the Hog deer population.


The animal is listed as globally endangered species by the IUCN's Red List and was thought to be extinct in Cambodia, until 2006, when it was rediscovered in Kratie province. The main threats to the Hog deer population include poaching for meat, habitat loss due to charcoal production and forest land clearance for agriculture.
https://www.facebook.com/WWFCambodia/

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Mon Mar 02, 2020 7:37 pm I've seen dozens of these, with no camera trap too.

Didn't know they are that endangered.

Interesting read:
Why Is The Hog Deer Endangered?
The hog deer features on the endangered species list of the IUCN.

Axis porcinus annamiticus
A. p. annamiticus has almost disappeared throughout its former range. The subspecies is thought to have gone extinct in the wild in several countries including Lao PDR, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. Cambodia is believed to be one of two states that have wild populations of A. p. annamiticus.

The Decline Of Axis porcinus
The drop in population of Axis porcinus is attributed mainly to habitat loss and hunting. In countries such as Cambodia, the reduction of A. p. annamiticus occurred at a faster rate compared to other similar-sized mammals. The phenomenon is attributed to the specific habitat requirements of the species that make it difficult for the species to survive when the former habitat is destroyed. Its habitat, which typically consists of grasslands, is targeted for housing development and agricultural conversion. Mismanagement of its habitat, which falls outside the traditional protected areas such as forests, is also a matter of concern. Intense human activity in grasslands also means that A. p. annamiticus is more exposed to hunting compared to other ungulates.
During and after the Khmer Rouge regime, wildlife was heavily hunted, leading to rapid declines in the population of several species, including A. p. annamiticus. The subspecies in Cambodia went unrecorded from the 1970s to the 1990s due to civil unrest. By 2013, just two small A. porcinus populations remained. Scientists have identified five locations within Cambodia, where hunting persists.

Full article: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/why ... gered.html

Rare Hog Deer Spotted in Cambodia’s Mekong Terrestrial Landscape
AKP Phnom Penh, May 03, 2022 --

Around 70 hog deer have been observed, roaming the remaining tall grassland habitat of the Mekong terrestrial landscape in Kratie province, said the Ministry of Environment in a news release yesterday.

This exciting result was revealed last week through photographic evidence from camera trap and thermal drone surveys conducted by the wildlife researchers of Kratie Provincial Department of Environment and WWF, with the assistance from the Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation (BINCO) NPO team and Thermal DRONES GmbH, as well as from the local community and authority, in a wildlife sanctuary under the management of the Ministry of Environment with WWF support, it pointed out.



The survey also showed the presence of multiple fawns, indicating a reproduction is taking place in the area, continued the news release, stressing that the Ministry of Environment and WWF are preparing the hog deer population status report, which is due to be released soon.

The hog deer is listed as globally endangered on the IUCN Red List and was once thought to be extinct in Cambodia, until its rediscovery in 2006 in Kratie.

However, the species is threatened by habitat loss, poaching and snaring crisis, fuelled by the illegal wildlife trade. To save the hog deer and many other globally significant wildlife species in Cambodia from poaching and snaring, the Zero-Snaring in Cambodia’s protected areas campaign was launched in early March 2022 with the goal to eliminate all types of snaring and end the illegal wildlife trade.
- AKP

84 rare hog deer found present in NE Cambodia, raising hope for species conservation
By Xinhua Published: Jun 17, 2022 10:29 AM

Neth Pheaktra, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, speaks during the release of the hog deer population survey results in Kratie province, Cambodia on June 16, 2022. Eighty-four globally endangered hog deer are roaming grassland habitats in the Prek Prasob Wildlife Sanctuary of Mekong flooded forest in northeastern Cambodia, according to the first camera-trap survey of the hog deer population released on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)

Axis porcinus, or hog deer, listed as a globally endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, was once considered extinct until its rediscovery in 2006 in Kratie, with their presence confirmed by camera-trapping.

Neth Pheaktra, secretary of state and spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, said he is delighted and proud that the natural environment in Cambodia provides a safe haven for the survival of globally significant species such as the hog deer, whose presence and reproduction have been confirmed in Prek Prasob Wildlife Sanctuary.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202206/1268366.shtml

It excellent news to know that an endangered species is reproducing, let's hope that the Ministry of Environment and good work of the WWF keep up the protection of the deer.
But can't help thinking that the deer need to grow in number if the tiger is introduced.

Hog Deer Festival in Kratie to Promote Wildlife Conservation
AKP Phnom Penh, December 28, 2022 --

A hog deer festival has been orgagnised in mid-December at Prek Krieng Pagoda in Sambo district, Kratie province to raise awareness and strengthen wildlife conservation, according to WWF-Cambodia.

At least 147 people, including Buddhist monks, villagers, youth, rangers, representatives from Kratie Provincial Department of Environment, local authorities and WWF staffs, participated in the two-day event, organised to honour forest and wildlife values, promoting the connection between religious beliefs, culture and natural resources conservation.

The participants also paid respect to hog deers and other wild animals that died from snaring, habitat loss and hunting.

The event was also an opportunity for strengthening the patrol practice by members of the local community, as well increasing the awareness of the villagers about the need to protect wildlife, stop land encroachment and completely end poaching, snaring, hunting with dogs in protected forest areas.


The 2022 hog deer (Axis porcinus) population report revealed 84 individuals roaming the grassland habitats in Prek Prasob Wildlife Sanctuary, Mekong Flooded Forest, Kratie province. The survey result showed the presence of multiple fawns, indicating a reproduction of the rare spices is taking place in its natural habitats.

In Cambodia, the species was once considered extinct until its rediscovery in 2006 in Kratie, with their presence confirmed by camera-trapping.
By C. Nika
AKP