Southeast Asia
Cambodia
Cambodia's eastern forests are at the centre of the Southeast Asian snare crisis. Researchers describe much of the remaining Lower Mekong forest as suffering from 'empty forest…
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
In brief
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country where WARN's planned work centres on the snare crisis in the Lower Mekong forests — funding de-snaring patrols, providing veterinary triage for snared wildlife, and supporting the rescue of pangolins, sun bears and Asian elephants caught up in cross-border trafficking.
Key Facts About Cambodia
- Researchers have documented millions of snares set across the Lower Mekong region.
- Significant proportion of remaining forest now functionally empty of large vertebrates.
- Pangolins, sun bears, Asian elephants and clouded leopards are all bycatch victims.
- Siem Reap province banned the dog meat trade in 2020.
- Our planned Cambodia work funds de-snaring patrols and veterinary triage.
- Researchers describe much Lower Mekong forest as suffering "empty forest syndrome".
- Siem Reap province banned the dog meat trade in 2020.
What is the wildlife situation in Cambodia?
Eastern Cambodia (the Eastern Plains landscape, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri) holds some of the largest remaining lowland deciduous forests in Indochina. These forests are increasingly compromised by motorcycle-cable snares set for bushmeat. The Dog Meat-Free Indonesia / Vietnam / Cambodia coalition has driven progress on the dog and cat meat trade.
What is WARN preparing to do in Cambodia?
Three programmes: (1) funding and training de-snaring patrols in priority protected areas; (2) veterinary triage for animals found alive in snares; (3) supporting evidence collection for prosecutions and cross-border trafficking interdiction.
Why Cambodia matters
The snare crisis is the single largest contemporary threat to wildlife welfare in mainland Southeast Asia. Working at scale here also produces benefit upstream — many of the species snared in Cambodia are trafficked through Vietnam to demand markets further north.
De-snaring patrol capacity
Motorcycle-cable snares set for bushmeat kill indiscriminately. Funding patrol training and equipment in priority protected areas is the highest-leverage welfare intervention in mainland Southeast Asia.
Cross-border trafficking to Vietnam
Species snared in Cambodia frequently enter Vietnam-bound trade routes. Partner grants support evidence collection for prosecutions and interdiction.
Threats to Wildlife in Cambodia
Wire and cable snares
Cross-border smuggling to Vietnam
Habitat loss
Dog meat trade
What WARN Funds in Cambodia
Our Cambodia programme will fund and train de-snaring patrols in priority protected areas, support evidence collection for prosecutions, and provide veterinary triage for animals found alive in snares.
Key Species in Cambodia
Cambodia FAQ
Is the dog meat trade legal in Cambodia?
Why is the snare crisis so much worse in Cambodia than elsewhere?
Is the dog meat trade legal in Cambodia?
Why is Cambodia's snare crisis so severe?
Does WARN fund moon bears in Cambodia?
What is empty forest syndrome?
Is Cambodia in WARN's partner network?
Can UK donors support Cambodia snare removal?
Rescue Guides for Cambodia
Focused pages for the specific animal rescue searches connected to Cambodia, from trafficking response to sanctuary and veterinary care.
Southeast Asia · Companion animal rescue
Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Southeast Asia
The dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia moves companion animals through high-stress capture, transport and slaughter routes; rescue depends on enforcement, shelter capacity and demand reduction.
Southeast Asia · Exotic pet trade
Slow Loris Pet Trade Rescue
Slow loris pet trade rescue is difficult because trafficked lorises often arrive with clipped teeth, stress injuries and specialist dietary needs after being taken from the wild for viral exotic pet demand.
Slow loris · Pet trade injury
Rescued Slow Loris Teeth Removed
Slow loris teeth are often cut or pulled by traders to prevent biting; rescued lorises with dental damage need urgent veterinary care and may be unable to return to the wild.
UK donors · International cat welfare
Help Stray Cats Abroad
From the UK, you can help stray cats abroad by funding neutering, vaccination, emergency treatment, community cat care and shelter support in countries where local capacity is limited.
UK donors · Dogs and cats abroad
Donate to Help Dogs and Cats Abroad
UK supporters can donate to help dogs and cats abroad by funding partner-led veterinary care, neutering, vaccination, emergency rescue, shelter capacity and humane alternatives to culling or meat-trade suffering.
UK donors · Meat trade intent
Donate to Stop the Dog and Cat Meat Trade
UK supporters can donate to help stop the dog and cat meat trade by funding partner-led seizure rescue, quarantine, rabies-risk veterinary treatment, shelter capacity and demand-reduction work — with Indonesia and Malaysia as WARN's current in-network focus.
UK donors · Symbolic cat adoption
Adopt a Cat Symbolically UK
Adopt a cat from the UK by matching the goal: a local registered rescue for rehoming nearby, or WARN — a UK CIC, not a charity — to symbolically adopt from £5/month for partner-led TNVR and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
UK donors · Cat charity donations
Donate to a Cat Charity UK
Donate to a cat charity from the UK by matching the goal: a local registered rescue for rehoming nearby, or WARN — a UK CIC, not a charity — for partner-led community-cat TNVR and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
US donors · Symbolic cat adoption
Adopt a Cat from a Charity in the US
To adopt a cat into your US home, contact your nearest local shelter, humane society or cat rescue for rehoming — WARN does not place cats in US households, but you can symbolically adopt a cat from $5/month at /adopt/cat to fund partner-led TNVR, vaccination and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
US donors · Cat charity donations
Donate to a Cat Charity US
Donate to a cat charity from the US by matching the goal: a local shelter for rehoming nearby, or WARN — a UK CIC, not a 501(c)(3) — for partner-led community-cat TNVR and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Appeals You Can Support in Cambodia
Back a specific cause for the animals of Cambodia. Every gift funds frontline rescue, veterinary care and humane coexistence work through our local partners.
Indonesia · Malaysia
Elephant Rescue & Protection
Sumatran and Bornean elephants face habitat loss, conflict and poaching. Fund rapid veterinary response and humane coexistence work through partners in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Support this appeal
Indonesia · Malaysia · Pakistan
Save the World's Most Trafficked Mammal
Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals on earth. Fund rescue, rehabilitation and release for pangolins seized from traffickers, with Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan as the in-network focus.
Support this appeal
Indonesia · Malaysia
Rescue Asia's Moon Bears
Moon bears face bile farming, trafficking and habitat loss across Southeast Asia. Fund sanctuary care, rescue operations and welfare support through partners in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Support this appeal
Indonesia · Malaysia
Save the Slow Loris
Torn from the forest and mutilated for the viral pet trade, the slow loris is vanishing. Fund rescue, specialist rehabilitation and release, with Indonesia and Malaysia as the in-network focus.
Support this appealHelp the Animals of Cambodia
Your donation funds the rescue teams, sanctuaries, and programmes protecting wildlife and street animals across Cambodia.
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