Global News - September 2007

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Cambodian government acts to protect rare bird

Mon 17 September 2007 13:50 UK — Asia

The Cambodian government has set up a large sanctuary to protect the rare eastern sarus crane, reports suggest.

According to Reuters, the national government established the 8,000 hectare sanctuary in flood plains near the Mekong Delta.

The move comes after around 300 of the rare red-headed birds were found in two districts of Takeo province near the border with Vietnam.

Environment minister Mok Mareth is quoted by the news agency as having said: "We need to protect these beautiful creatures."

He reportedly added that officials had been sent to the region to tell farmers and local fishermen not to hunt the cranes for food.

Officials added that successful government schemes in Cambodia meant that the population of eastern sarus cranes in the country had jumped from 220 to 495 this year.

Worldwide, the cranes are threatened by habitat destruction, hunting and environmental pollution. In Australia, interbreeding among the species is also a serious problem.

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