File photo for representational purposes only.
Phnom Penh: A herd of six wild Asian elephants, including a young calf, has been spotted wandering near a village in Cambodia's northwestern Preah Vihear province, an environment spokesperson said on Monday.
Khvay Atitya, also an undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Environment, said the rare mammals have been roaming adjacent to a forest within the Chheb-Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary in Tbeng Meanchey district since Aug. 12.
Asian elephants are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
"Our team conducted a field survey and deployed drones to monitor the herd, which is currently about 3 km away from the village," Atitya told Xinhua. "The elephants have been traveling and foraging without causing any conflicts or disruptions to the local community."
To ensure the herd's safety, conservationists have educated nearby villagers on elephant protection, he said, adding that residents are urged to avoid hunting and minimize conflicts with the herd.
Atitya emphasized that the ongoing presence of elephant herds brings hope to environmental groups, signaling the effectiveness of local forest protection and habitat conservation efforts.
According to ministry data, between 15 and 20 wild elephants live within the Chheb-Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary.
Research by the Ministry of Environment and its conservation partners shows that the country's protected areas provide a sustainable sanctuary for an estimated 400 to 600 of these majestic animals, he said.
