Camera traps, installed by park rangers on the Phnom Dongrak mountain range between November 1st and 24th, have captured the first images in 20 years of a rare clouded leopard, among several other wildlife species, according to Chaiwat Limlikhit-akson, director of the 9th Conservation Area Office.
He told the media on Thursday that the camera traps had captured hog deer, Asiatic wild dogs, a Malaysian night heron, a leopard and, most significantly, a clouded leopard, which had not been sighted there for the past two decades.
The camera traps were set up by park rangers along jungle paths heading toward Thung Kabarn Kabai savannah, which is a feeding ground of many species of wildlife.
Chaiwat said that several wild species have been returned to the wild on the Thung Kabarn Kabai savannah and their numbers have been increasing, adding that the abundant wildlife on the savannah and in surrounding areas are living proof of the success of the project to return captured wildlife to nature.
The Khao Phanom Dongrak, or Dangrek range, are mountainsforming a natural border between Thailand and Cambodia. The range is a relatively low series of mountains, with summits averaging about 500 metres. The highest peak is the 753 metre Phu Khi Suk at the eastern end in the Chong Bok area, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia intersect.
Meanwhile, a wounded hornbill, which had been under treatment at the Noen Plub Wan animal hospital in Banglamung district of Chon Buri province for the past five days, died Thursday night from a bullet wound.
The protected bird was shot on Chang Island, in the eastern province of Trat on November 19th.
Padet Siridamrong, the veterinarian who treated the wounded hornbill, said that the bird was in a critical condition when it was brought to the hospital, having been shot in the head. He said he had tried his best to save the bird, including the use of a respirator and CPR, but failed.
Police on Chang Island said that two suspects are in custody and a .22 calibre rifle has been seized.
Pol Lt-Col Uah-angkoon Kaewmuangklang, the police inquiry officer, said that a group of tourists, who reportedly witnessed the shooting at Khiri Petch waterfall, have promised to providestatements to the police.
