The global conservation importance of Western Siem Pang in Cambodia as one of only a very few sites conserving populations of five Critically Endangered bird species is becoming more widely known although it is best known to support the world’s largest population of the White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davidsoni.  However, its importance for another ibis - the Giant – is only now becoming better understood.

Photo Credit: Jonathan C. Eames

Recently a BirdLife survey team recorded an astonishing 16 Giant Ibis over ten days during a rapid survey of the western sector of the site.  As a rule during such a time period, one would expect to encounter one or two birds.  This is good news for the Giant Ibis, the national bird of Cambodia, whose global population estimate is believed to be as low as 200 individuals.

“At the height of the dry season one would expect a greater encounter rate as Giant Ibis along with other wildlife become concentrated at seasonal wetlands (trapeangs) in the forest and grasslands, but to record so many birds in such a short period from such a small area suggests the population at Western Siem Pang is much larger than we previously thought.” said Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager for BirdLife International in Indochina.

The global range of the Giant Ibis has shrunk and it now only occurs in southern Laos and northern Cambodia.  The destruction of dry dipterocarp forest and the associated wetlands in Thailand and Vietnam during the 20^th Century, lead to its extinction in those countries.  The same processes continue in Cambodia and the dry forest ecosystem and its wealth of wildlife may be now only seen at remote sites in Preh Vihear, Stung Treng and Mondulkiri provinces.  The forest edge retreats annually, however in the face of clearances for new concessions.

“The Giant Ibis shuns people,” continued Eames, “it is a magnificent and enigmatic bird that with its evocative call, will only be saved from global extinction when more people recognize that the economic values of the dry dipterocarp forests of Cambodia extend beyond cassava plantations and poorly conceived bio fuel projects.”