Rattanakiri: NatureLife Cambodia’s research team, in collaboration with rangers from the Rattanakiri Provincial Department of Environment, released early this week two leopard cats back into their natural habitat within the target area of the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ project.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, these leopard cats had been caught by villagers during farming activities and were later handed over to the team for safe release into the wild.
‘We appreciate the farmers who understood the importance of wildlife conservation and collaborated with our team to protect the species in this sanctuary,’ the NatureLife Cambodia said. ‘We urge everyone to join us in protecting wildlife by refraining from consuming wild animal meat, participating in wildlife trade, hunting, trapping, or contributing to deforestation.’
The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast, and East Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as it is widely distributed although threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range.