TravelLocal Fund For Good: interview with Wildlife Alliance

As part of our commitment to being a force for good in the travel industry, in 2023 we set up the TravelLocal Fund For Good. This fund will be distributed to charities around the world that are doing crucial work to alleviate challenges like environmental degradation, wildlife conservation, and access to clean drinking water. One of these is Wildlife Alliance, a Cambodia-based charity dedicated to animal conservation in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on animals rescued from traffickers.

We speak to Dr Navaneetha Roopan, Project Manager and Wildlife Veterinarian, about the charity’s mission and success stories, as well as the challenges it faces and how it seeks to overcome them.

How would you explain the importance of what Wildlife Alliance does?

The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) is the biggest of its kind in Cambodia and is home to 1,600 permanent wildlife residents. Wildlife Alliance plays an important role in giving rescued wild animals, that are unsuitable for release, a home under expert care for the rest of their lives. It is also one of the few places in the country where animals can be rehabilitated prior to being released.

With more and more species becoming endangered, the importance of what happens to rescued individuals becomes more significant. Additionally, the centre is open to the public, so it provides an amazing opportunity for visitors from all over the world to learn about the incredible wildlife in Cambodia. With over 100 species to see, it is easy for visitors to experience the wonder of the natural world and as a result, form or reinforce a desire to protect it.

Have you ever had to explain some dos and don’ts to travellers? What were they?

The majority of our guests find our tours after researching ethical wildlife experiences, so most people are well aware of the dos and don’ts. Occasionally, guests expect a lot more physical interaction with the animals – holding the baby animals, bathing the elephants, more selfie opportunities. We explain the importance of the animals having as much opportunity to display natural behaviours as possible, and that this requires minimal contact with humans. What is notable is how many guests say that they used to do something that they wouldn’t do now, for example elephant riding. This shows promising behavioural change towards wildlife tourism, already.

What’s the most incredible conservation story in Wildlife Alliance’s history?

Elephant Chhouk was discovered alone in the forest in the northeast of Cambodia in 2007, when he was only around one year old, with a horrific leg injury likely caused by a snare. Wildlife Alliance was asked to assist with the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team and vets as he was not in a good way. The team had to stay with Chhouk in the forest for a week, providing medicine, food and water before he was strong enough to survive the long journey by truck to the PTWRC.

At the centre, his leg was treated under sedation in weekly procedures to ensure there was no infection or bone fragments. Mr Tham took on the responsibility of being Chhouk’s main carer and slept by him each night as a surrogate mother. Once his leg was healed he would walk in the forest with resident elephant Lucky, who had adopted him as a little brother, but it was clear that having one leg shorter than the others was making him very tired and affecting his development. After a great search for help, the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (CSPO) offered to try to make Chhouk a shoe. The shoe was a great success with Chhouk feeling comfortable in it straight away, and still to this day has new ones made roughly every six months.

Chhouk’s story has been a winding road and is a tribute to everyone involved: to those who have helped with financial assistance; to the vets and keepers for their dedicated care, particularly through the difficult early days when we were uncertain whether Chhouk would survive; to CSPO for their ability and professionalism; and of course to Chhouk himself, whose fighting spirit kept him going in the early days. Seventeen years later, the frail elephant calf we rescued has become an ambassador for wildlife in Cambodia.

Can you share a success story about a species that you have helped protect or conserve?

In the early 2000s, the Cardamom Rainforest was a hotspot for elephant and tiger poaching. Between 2000 and 2006, 37 wild Asian elephants were poached in the Cardamoms. In response to this crisis, Wildlife Alliance partnered with the Cambodian government to increase effective patrolling and law enforcement. Since 2006, rangers have gone on over 84,000 patrols, have removed over 340,000 snares, and have sent 1,600 offenders to court, leaving the forests they protect safe for elephants to roam free.

How does your organisation work with local communities to promote wildlife conservation?

Wildlife Alliance’s Community Conservation Support (CCS) programme provides local people who have taken the initiative to protect their local forest and wildlife populations with technical and financial support to sustain their efforts. This help takes different forms depending on the needs at each site, and may include the purchase of equipment, the provision of per diems for patrols, interceding with local authorities on their behalf, and/or raising the profile of what they are doing to spread the word. Rangers patrol day and night to remove snares, seize illegal timber, stop land encroachment and apprehend offenders, and have been trained by Wildlife Alliance staff on GPS patrolling, excel tracking, and camera trap placements.

What are the biggest challenges you currently face in wildlife protection, and how are you addressing them?

Some of the biggest challenges we face are snares and illegal hunting, which increased significantly in 2021 as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic worsened socio-economic impacts in Cambodia. Snares are the greatest threat to wildlife survival, and to address this we created the CCS programme, in which we are strengthening community rangers’ capacity by introducing GPS-based patrolling and training.

In the forest that surrounds PTWRC, hunting by rifle has significantly reduced over the years, as the reputation of our rangers grows. Most of the casualties to wildlife such as ungulate species have been caused by feral dogs, which we are actively managing through population control. We are working hard to ensure the safety of our released animals in the years to come.

Can you explain the role of technology and research in your conservation efforts?

Research plays a pivotal role in Wildlife Alliance’s conservation efforts, for example in addressing the acute snaring surge that threatens wildlife populations. Wildlife Alliance staff have published scientific articles to raise awareness about the snaring crisis. These publications help highlight the severity of the issue and attract attention from the global conservation community and potential funders. In 2024, we plan to publish a banteng ox population survey, vital for understanding the current status of the species and for informing future conservation actions. Publishing the survey results in scientific journals ensures that the data is accessible to the broader conservation community and can be used to advocate for additional support and resources.

How does your organisation measure the impact of its conservation initiatives?

Measuring the impact of conservation initiatives is essential for ensuring effectiveness, transparency, and ongoing improvement. Below are some methods and metrics we use to assess the impact of our conservation efforts:

• Species population monitoring through wildlife surveys: regular surveys and monitoring of key species populations, such as banteng, gibbons, and elephants, to track population trends and health. Additionally, camera traps are used in various habitats to document wildlife presence, behaviour, and population changes over time.
• Success rates of reintroduction programmes: tracking the survival rates of reintroduced animals (including offspring born in the wild) to assess the success of soft-release programmes, and monitoring the breeding success of reintroduced species, particularly those involved in captive-breeding programmes like gibbons and langurs.
• Rescue and rehabilitation statistics: recording the number of animals rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild.

What are some misconceptions people have about wildlife conservation that you would like to clarify?

One misconception we would like to clarify is that keeping wildlife as pets is acceptable as long as they are treated well. This is not true. Wild animals have complex needs that cannot be met in a domestic environment, and keeping them as pets leads to significant animal welfare issues. Additionally, many people assume that hunting wildlife is primarily done with guns. However, in Southeast Asia, snares are the most prominent method. These pose a severe threat, indiscriminately killing animals that reside in the forest.

How do you ensure the ethical treatment of animals in your conservation programmes?

Wildlife Alliance’s animal care team are experienced and have good standards of practice. We handle our animals in compliance with the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. We believe in capacity-building; our animal care staff are local Cambodians who receive regular training on animal care from our qualified veterinarians and keepers. We also conduct in-the-field training for our government counterparts.

At PTWRC, for each species, we provide an enclosure appropriate to its habitat requirements which also includes enrichment opportunities and cage furniture for exercise and play. For example, large natural aviaries with pools house water birds, and forested enclosures for tigers, elephants, and otters include pools that allow for play and socialisation. We also provide balls and barrels filled with food as an enrichment activity to some of our animals, such as elephants, otters and primates. Our female elephants walk in the forest for approximately five hours each day, enabling them to graze and swim in the large main lake.

Can you give us an overview of your biggest achievements in 2023?

In 2023, PTWRC received 1,302 animals, including native and non-native species, through confiscation or donation. Despite challenges, 753 animals were released, and 103 were born, demonstrating the centre’s successful care and rehabilitation efforts. Wildlife Alliance has significantly improved PTWRC’s infrastructure, including building new enclosures, implementing a water filtration system, and constructing patrol stations and boundary fences to enhance the security and well-being of the animals and the surrounding forest. Improved management by Forestry Administration officials and Wildlife Alliance staff has enhanced the security of Phnom Tamao Forest and the protection of its wildlife. In 2023, community rangers removed 62 snares and traps, including 31 for larger mammals like sambar and 31 for birds. Additionally, a hunter was arrested in March after shooting a sambar, following a reward offered by Wildlife Alliance for his apprehension.

What are the main challenges that you face, and how do you overcome them?

We face various political challenges, for example in 2022 we faced the significant threat of planned development around PTWRC, which included the potential destruction of most of the Phnom Tamao Forest. Thankfully, the government reversed its decision, officially protecting the area through a Royal Sub-Decree. Despite these challenges, we continued to improve animal care at PTWRC, successfully managing difficult species like pangolins, douc langurs, and hairy-nosed otters.

We also encountered new challenges in the post-pandemic environment, including financial reductions and evolving illegal trade methods. Despite the Royal Decree protecting the Phnom Tamao Forest, hunting and feral dogs remained threats. To mitigate these risks, we implemented measures like a reward-based scheme for prosecuting hunters and population control for villagers’ dogs. The construction of a perimeter fence, completed in February 2024, further secured the forest.

Lastly, we face ongoing funding challenges due to the significant funds required to feed and care for over 1,600 animals daily. We continue to raise further funds by engaging existing donors and cultivating new partnerships, such as the one we’ve formed with TravelLocal. Additionally, as the post-pandemic tourism landscape recovers, we have seen increased contributions through our PTWRC Behind the Scenes Tours from overseas visitors, who are gradually beginning to travel again.

In what ways can individuals and businesses contribute to your wildlife conservation efforts?

You can contribute to our wildlife conservation efforts in several impactful ways, such as providing funds for food and veterinary care, sponsoring rehabilitation and release programmes, and supporting ranger and staff salaries. You can also visit the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, where our expert guides organise everything in a behind-the-scenes tour of Cambodia’s biggest wildlife rescue centre.

Make it happen

If you’re looking for ways to support Wildlife Alliance yourself, please visit their website and get in touch with them directly.