Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary

11°11′31″N 103°28′35″E / 11.1920°N 103.4764°E / 11.1920; 103.4764Area1,442.75 km² (557.05 sq mi)Established9 May 2016Governing bodyMinistry of Environment (Cambodia)

Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary (Khmer: ដែនជម្រកសត្វព្រៃតាតៃ) is a protected area in southwest Cambodia created in 2016, covering 144,275 ha (356,510 acres).^[1] Located in the Cardamom Mountains,^[2] the area is threatened by sand dredging and processing,^[3] by the filling-in of water bodies,^[4] and by land-grabbing.^[5] In 2021, 26,103 ha (64,500 acres) were cut from the wildlife sanctuary in a PADDD event. Local communities have been displaced into the protected area from nearby areas following the creation of the 246-megawatt Stung Tatai hydropower dam by China National Machinery Industry Corporation in 2014.^[6]

Part of the protected area forms part of the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project (SCRP).^[7]

Project Tiger

In 2007, the Indochinese tiger was last spotted in the country on a camera trap. In 2016, the Cambodian government declared that the tiger was "functionally extinct".^[8]^[9] In April 2023, India signed a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia to assist the country with the tiger's reintroduction. At least 90 acres (36 hectares) of the cardamom rainforest could be used to host Bengal tigers that are imported from India.^[2]

References

^ "Sub-decree No.80 on Establishment of Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary - OD Mekong Datahub". data.opendevelopmentmekong.net. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ ^a ^b Patil, Apoorva (2023-04-11). "India and Cambodia Sign Pact For Tiger Translocation As Project Tiger Completes 50 Years". India Times. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ Amaro, Yesenia; Seangly, Phak. "New facility worries activists". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ Dara, Voun. "Koh Kong authorities order halt to filling-in of sanctuary's canals". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ "The great Koh Kong land rush: Areas stripped of protection by Cambodian gov't being bought up". Mongabay Environmental News. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ "The great Koh Kong land rush: Areas stripped of protection by Cambodian gov't being bought up". Mongabay Environmental News. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ "Verra Search Page". registry.verra.org. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
^ Roy, Esha (2023-03-26). "50 years of Project Tiger: India considers translocating a few big cats to Cambodia". The Indian Express. New Delhi. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ Explained Desk (2023-03-27). "Why some tigers from India may be sent to Cambodia". The Indian Express. New Delhi. Retrieved 2023-05-09.