Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary
{{Short description|Protected area in Cambodia}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name = {{langx|km|ដែនជម្រកសត្វព្រៃភ្នំសំកុស}}
| iucn_category = IV
| map = Cambodia
| relief = yes
| map_width =
| map_caption =
| location = Primarily Pursat Province, Cambodia
| nearest_city = Pursat
| coordinates = {{coord|12.2713|N|102.9767|E|region:KH|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| area = {{convert|3307.56|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| established = 1993
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Ministry of Environment
}}
Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in western Cambodia, bordering Thailand. The sanctuary was established in 1993{{Cite web |title=Royal decree on Establishment of Natural Protected Areas (1993 ) - OD Mekong Datahub |url=https://data.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/laws_record/http-bit-ly-1ntrsba |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=data.opendevelopmentcambodia.net |language=en}} and covers {{convert|3307.56|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is also designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA).{{cite web |author=BirdLife International |year=2009 |title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Phnom Samkos, Cambodia |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/16663 |access-date=2018-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226184300/http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/16663 |archive-date=2018-12-26 |url-status=live }}
Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Cardamom Mountains and the area comprises mostly forested mountains, but with many different habitats and forest-types, and the landscape is dominated by three discrete peaks: Phnom Samkos ({{convert|1717|m|ft|abbr=on}} and Cambodia's second highest peak), Phnom Khmaoch ({{convert|1496|m|ft|abbr=on}}), and Phnom Tumpor ({{convert|1250|m|ft|abbr=on}}).
History
Historically, the sanctuary area has been inhabited by ethnic Por (or Pear), the namesake of the broader term Pearic people. In Cambodia, ethnic groups living in the highlands of the country are all referred to as Khmer Loeu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/survival-cambodias-ethnic-minorities|title=The Survival of Cambodia's Ethnic Minorities|website=www.culturalsurvival.org|date=2 March 2010 |access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608090622/https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/survival-cambodias-ethnic-minorities|archive-date=2019-06-08|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/ethnic-minorities-and-indigenous-people/|title=Ethnic minorities and indigenous people|date=15 July 2016 |access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719110223/https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/ethnic-minorities-and-indigenous-people/|archive-date=2017-07-19|url-status=live}}
Flora and fauna
The sanctuary is notable for its large diversity of habitats, including several types of forests. The interior of the sanctuary is largely unexplored by scientists, but small-scale surveys suggests that many rare, unique and even endemic species are present. There is a rich diversity of primates and monkeys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231792665|title=Abundance of primates reveals Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia as a priority area for conservation}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-new-wolf-snake-species-cambodia-01983.html|title=New Wolf Snake Species Discovered in Cambodia | Biology | Sci-News.com|website=Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com|date=12 June 2014 |access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531081029/http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-new-wolf-snake-species-cambodia-01983.html|archive-date=2017-05-31|url-status=live}}
Threats
The sanctuary has been under threat from illegal logging,{{Cite web |url=https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/wood-emperor-arrested-in-cambodia|title=Wood Emperor arrested in Cambodia | Fauna & Flora International|website=www.fauna-flora.org|date=13 January 2010 |access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531040919/http://www.fauna-flora.org/news/wood-emperor-arrested-in-cambodia/|archive-date=2017-05-31|url-status=live}} including specific targeting of Cinnamomum parthenoxylon trees for use in the illegal drug market.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/huge-seizure-of-ecstasy-oil-in-cardamom-mountains|title=Huge seizure of 'ecstasy oil' in Cardamom Mountains | Fauna & Flora International|website=www.fauna-flora.org|date=24 June 2009 |access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530152210/http://www.fauna-flora.org/news/huge-seizure-of-ecstasy-oil-in-cardamom-mountains/|archive-date=2017-05-30|url-status=live}} Another threat is illegal hunting of wildlife.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cifor.org/conservation/publications/pdf_files/cambodia/FFI%20presentation.pdf |title=Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary|access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224014826/http://www.cifor.org/conservation/publications/pdf_files/cambodia/FFI%20presentation.pdf|archive-date=2012-12-24|url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External
- [http://www.cifor.org/conservation/publications/pdf_files/cambodia/FFI%20presentation.pdf Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary]
- [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2019.00296/full Wildlife and Livelihoods in the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia]
- [http://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/iieddp/37920.html Sustainable financing of protected areas in Cambodia: Phnom Aural and Phnom Samkos wildlife sanctuaries]
- {{WWF ecoregion|name=Cardamom Mountains rain forests|id=im0106}}
- [http://www.mekong-protected-areas.org/cambodia/pa-map.htm Map of Protected areas system in Cambodia]
{{National parks of Cambodia}}
Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of Cambodia
Category:Protected areas of Cambodia
Category:Geography of Pursat province
Category:Protected areas established in 1994
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