Koh Kong province's Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary near the Sre Ambel River has been buzzing with excitement lately. According to local media reports, conservation groups and environment officials reviewing footage from camera traps set up between last October and January managed to capture images of three rare and endangered mammals for the very first time in the area: the hog deer, the large-spotted civet, and the hairy-nosed otter.
These elusive visitors are notoriously hard to find. The hairy-nosed otter is one of the rarest otters in the world and is found exclusively in Southeast Asia. Even better, the cameras didn't just spot a large-spotted civet—they caught a mother with two kittens, proving these animals aren't just visiting the local creeks and mangroves, but are actually settling down and breeding. Meanwhile, the hog deer, which had previously been rediscovered in other provinces, has now made its first appearance in Koh Kong, giving conservationists a serious morale boost.
Environmental rangers and local fisheries officials have kept a close eye on the Sre Ambel River basin over the past few years. Locals and fishermen know this wetland is packed with mangroves and swamps where the only sounds are usually the wind and water rushing past. Officials say capturing these endangered species on camera proves that years of forest protection and research are paying off, offering real hope for the future of the local ecosystem.
