Cambodian serow under threat
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E-mail CNTV, September 27, 2012
In Cambodia, the southern serow is a species of goat-antelope native to mountain forests. However, Southeast Asia's exclusive animal population is being decimated by habitat loss and over-hunting. Now, animal lovers are working with biologists there to protect the species.
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Cambodian serow |
Native to mountain forests in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and southeast Cambodia, very little is known about the southern serow in the wild.
Now, the animal is officially listed as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning they are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term.
Nick Marx, director of Wildlife Rescue & Care Program, said,"They like to live in forested, hilly, rocky habitat. As you've seen, they like to get up on the rocks and move around on the rocks. They are nervous and on the whole they are solitary animals. They don't live in groups - if you see more than one together it's probably a mother with a youngster."
The center has had great success breeding serows in captivity. Two breeding couples at the center have so far produced eight offspring in total. That's considered a huge success.
Try Sitheng, head keeper of Wildlife Rescue & Care Program, said,"We take care of nine Southern Serows at Phnom Tamao including a calf born to this female on the 8th of July this year. The calf is very healthy and is taken care of very well by Mrs. Mao who gives him lots of healthy food that is full of vitamins."
Despite the success of the breeding program, serows remain under serious threat in Cambodia and beyond.
As with other wildlife species, habitat loss is a big problem with the cutting down of vast stretches of forest in the southwest of the country. What's more, the southern serow is heavily hunted due to its high medical value.
Nick Marx, director of Wildlife Rescue & Care Program, said,"If we're going to save the southern serow strong, protection is needed so laws need to be drawn up by governments protecting serow and other wildlife and these need to be enforced."
Serows are among the least studied animals in the wild, and experts worry that the species is being wiped out in many parts of their range even before they have been properly understood.
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