PHNOM PENH, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The APSARA National Authority (ANA) and Cambodia Wildlife Care (CWC) have called on local residents to safeguard wildlife in the natural forests of the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, said an ANA news release on Friday.
ANA is the government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding, and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Chou Radina, deputy director of the ANA's department of water, forestry, and infrastructure management, said that poaching and wildlife trapping still occurred in the Angkor area despite ongoing cooperation between the ANA, CWC, the Forestry Administration, and the Heritage Protection Police to regularly monitor, maintain, and protect the area.
He called on communities living around the Angkor area to work together to protect wildlife by refraining from setting traps or hunting wild animals, saying wildlife conservation played a vital role in enhancing the natural heritage and biodiversity of the Angkor region.
"Tourists visiting Angkor not only admire the ancient temples but also appreciate the presence of wildlife, which reflects the richness of the natural environment," he said.
Nick Marx, an expert from CWC and biodiversity advisor to the ANA, said wild animals are essential for dispersing seeds and helping forests regenerate, contributing to the lush green landscape of the Angkor region.
He added that wildlife also attracts tourists who are interested in nature and biodiversity.
Marx called on all Cambodians to join efforts in protecting wildlife and forests in the Angkor region.
"Please do not feed wild animals and do not disturb them," he said. "Let them live peacefully in their natural habitat."
The 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, the kingdom's most popular tourist destination, is home to 91 ancient temples, which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuries. ■
