Lomphat Spots 22 Sarus Cranes in December 2024 – A Record-Breaking Count for this nesting site

As 2024 comes to a close, NatureLife Cambodia’s biodiversity team in Lomphat brings us very exciting news! During this morning’s monitoring session, 22 Sarus Cranes, including 8 young birds, were sighted across 7 locations in Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary. This surpasses all previous counts at the Sanctuary, including the previous high count of 16 from last season.

This remarkable milestone is a testament to the success of ongoing biodiversity conservation efforts, a perfect way to bid farewell to 2024 and step into 2025 with hope and commitment.

The 22 Sarus Cranes, including their young, were observed flying, calling, foraging, and enjoying the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS), setting another record for the winter census. Lomphat has become a favoured site for them, one of the few places where the Mekong Basin population breed, raise young, even staying over winter.

USAID Morodok Baitang-មរតកបៃតង in collaboration with NatureLife Cambodia Organization, the Ministry of Environment , and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund , have been implementing various Sarus Crane conservation efforts, including nest monitoring, forest patrols, wildlife-friendly agriculture and more. Sarus Crane conservation is one of many activities boosted by the implementation of the LWS REDD+ Project, which aims to benefit biodiversity, local culture and livelihoods, as well as the atmosphere through the preservation of the standing forests.

The Sarus Crane species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; however, the Southeast Asian subspecies, which includes the Mekong Basin population, is at risk of extinction, with fewer than 50 nesting pairs remaining last year due to habitat loss and other threats.

Let’s protect these iconic birds – the symbol of Loyal Love and Fidelity – and safeguard their future by spreading the word to your friends, family, and networks!