VIRACHEY NATIONAL PARK CAMBODIA

RATANAKIRI and STUNG TRENG PROVINCES (), ()

14o20´N/107o11´E/ 432,415ha (338,057ha protected) 65 to 1,546m, mountains with evergreen and semi-evergreen jungle, small areas of deciduous woodland, bamboo and savannah 
International Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site, Wetland of International Importance

 

Birding Site Guide

Virachey National Park located in NE Cambodia joins with Laos PDR, forms one of the largest areas of protected forest in Asia. Part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail crosses the park. Rivers include the Tok Mok River, Gan-Yu River, the O Pong River and the Sesan River. The highest ground in the park is towards the border with Loas, two of the peaks being Ching-Yum and Haling Hala Mountain and there are large plateaus with little explored grasslands such as Veal Thom.

Indigenous peoples include the Tampuan, Kreung, Brau and Kavet tribes that still inhabit the little explored area. They also help to run a community based ecotourism plan and the admission fee is $10 which includes a guide and guesthouses cost from $5. Treks are available from various companies for $100 to several hundred $ and can include English speaking guides. The longest trek is 8 days to Haling Halang Mountain via the Veal Thom Grasslands near the Laotian border.

CAMBODIA MINISTERY OF TOURISM

TRAVEL BLOG CAMBODIA

TRAVEL BLOG CAMBODIA 2

Threats include rubber plantation concessions within in the park, granted through corruption. Illegal logging takes place and mining operations pose a grave threat. The biggest threat however is the World Bank withdrawing its funding in 2008.

There are 100+ species of birds including some threatened species. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Siamese Fireback Lophura diardi, Germain's Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron germaini, Green Peafowl Pavo muticus, Scaly-breasted Partridge Arborophila chloropus, Great-thick Knee Esacus recurvirostris, River Tern Sterna aurantia, Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicinctus, Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea, Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria, Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus, Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus, Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis, White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis, Red-collared Woodpecker Picus rabieri, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis Blue-rumped Pitta Pitta soror, Bar-bellied Pitta Pitta elliotiiand Black-and-Red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos.

This article contains a comprehensive bird list.

Into the unknown mountains of Cambodia: rare birds, rice wine, and talk of tigers (Howie Nielsen)

Many species of mammals including Tiger Panthera tigris, Indian ElephantElephas maximus indicus, Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, LeopardPanthera pardus, Asian Golden Cat Pardofelis temminckii, Civet Civettictis Civetta, Marbled CatPardofelis marmorata, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Sambar Deer , Cervus unicolor, Dhole Cuon alpinus, Gibbon Hylobatidae and Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus (endangered) various species of wild cattle such as Gaur Bos gaurus, Banteng Bos javanicus.

A recent 15 day Rapid Assessment Study by Conservation International found 30 ant species, 19 katydid species, 37 fish species, 35 reptile species, 26 amphibian species, 15 mammal species.


Author: BSG

 

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