On January 12, rangers working with the Ministry of Environment’s Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism project conducted a patrol using the SMART system and spotted about 20 green peafowl feeding at the foot of a mountain in Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary, Kampong Speu province.
The green peafowl (English name: Green Peafowl; scientific name: Pavo muticus) is classified as a rare species in Cambodia, listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, and included in Appendix II of CITES. The species faces threats from trapping and habitat loss. The report says the peaceful presence of green peafowl alongside other biodiversity indicates that wildlife and other biodiversity in protected natural areas are being well protected and cared for, with wildlife numbers increasing, as the Ministry of Environment takes the strictest measures to prevent, eliminate and crack down on all illegal activities in protected areas and environmental offences.
Male green peafowl have large bodies, long legs and necks, bright green wings and bodies, upright crests, and large, long tails marked with yellow-and-blue patterns resembling hundreds of eyes. Females look similar to males but have duller colours and shorter tails. Peafowl occur in almost all parts of Cambodia, mostly in mixed deciduous forest, along waterways, at bamboo-forest edges, in semi-evergreen forest and in evergreen forest.
By: Nget Pisant
