Cambodia is a country of immense biodiversity and lush forests. Sitting at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, it shares land borders with Laos to the north, Thailand to the north/west, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. The landscape is comprised of low-lying forests and plains surrounded by elevated hills and mountains, including the largest range, the Cardamom Mountains. The mighty Mekong River cuts through the middle of the country and merges with the sea just to the south in Vietnam. The Tonle Sap, which connects to the Mekong through the Tonle Sap River, is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the richest sources of freshwater fish in the world.
The Official National (State) Animal of Cambodia
Cambodia’s major national symbols are the kouprey, the giant ibis, the northern river terrapin, and the giant barb.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Cambodia
Cambodia is home to seven national parks and dozens more wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas.
- The Botum Sakor National Park, located in the country’s south, near the Gulf of Thailand, is the largest protected area in the country. It encompasses a peninsula of verdant grasslands, woodlands, swamps, and mangroves directly next to the Cardamom Mountains. Primates, pangolins, wild cats, deer, otters, and many other mammals can be found here. Another biodiversity hotspot, the Kirirom National Park, is located directly to the east as well.
- The Virachey National Park (classified as an ASEAN Heritage Park) and the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary encompass the dense, isolated jungles and mountain forests of the country’s northeast. This entire region is home to some of the richest biodiversity in Cambodia, including leopards, sun bears, dholes, muntjacs, peafowls, storks, ibises, hornbills, and other rare mammals and birds.
- The Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, comprised of lowland forests and swamps in the north, near the border with Thailand, was originally set aside to protect the kouprey. It’s also home to the endangered giant ibis and other unique birds.
- Other important protected areas include the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mondulkiri Protected Forest and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Cambodia Today
Cambodia is home to about 17 different types of venomous snakes and several large carnivores.
- King Cobra – As the world’s largest venomous snake, the king cobra is an intimidating and scary sight. Symptoms of its bite can include severe pain, vertigo, blurred vision, and paralysis. Fatality rates are generally higher than most other cobra species. Fortunately, the king cobra will attempt to avoid confrontation with humans before striking.
- Blue Krait – Sporting thick black and white bands, the blue krait is sometimes found around rice paddies and bamboo groves. As one of the most dangerous snakes, its highly potent venom may eventually cause respiratory failure in an alarming number of victims.
- Banded Krait – Featuring black and yellow bands, the banded krait can deliver a serious bite that results in vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and diarrhea. If left untreated, death can occur in 1% to 10% of cases due to respiratory failure.
Endangered Animals in Cambodia
Since the 20th century, Cambodian wildlife has been endangered by habitat destruction, unregulated hunting, and frequent warfare.
- Indian Elephant – A subspecies of the Asian elephant, these mammals roam the grasslands and forests of India and Southeast Asia. They have become endangered from habitat loss and increased conflict with humans.
- Indochinese Tiger – This subspecies of the tiger has lost significant ground over the centuries from poaching and habitat loss. It might already be extinct in Cambodia.
- Pangolin – The pangolin (also known as the scaly anteater) is the only kind of mammal with a full set of scales. Cambodia is home to the critically endangered Sunda pangolin.
- Slow Loris – The slow loris is a group of nocturnal tree-climbing primates. Cambodia has two species of loris, the Bengal slow loris, and pygmy slow loris, both of them endangered.
- Langur – Two types of this unique Old World monkey, Germain’s langur, and the Annamese langur, are endangered.
- Douc – A colorful arboreal monkey, both the red-shanked douc and black-shanked douc are in danger of becoming extinct.
- Kouprey – The kouprey is a wild forest-dwelling bovid that has dwindled rapidly from diseases and overhunting. Less than 250 are estimated to exist, and it may already be extinct in the wild.
- Eld’s Deer – The Thai brown-antlered deer, a unique subspecies of Eld’s deer, is endemic to Southeast Asia. But habitat loss and overhunting for traditional medicine have made it endangered.
- Giant Ibis – This long-legged wading bird inhabits marshes, lakes, swamps, rivers, and flooded areas. But the loss of its natural habitat has put it in danger of extinction.
- Siamese Crocodile – Growing up to 10 feet long (the largest ever specimen was 13 feet), this is the rarest species of crocodile in the world.
- Northern River Terrapin – Among the largest freshwater turtles of Asia, this species has become critically endangered from overexploitation.
- Giant Barb – Native to the Mekong River, this is the largest species of carp in the world. Habitat loss and overfishing have made them critically endangered.
National Flower of Cambodia
The national flower of Cambodia is the rumduol flower. It’s a pretty yellow three-petalled bloom with a striking sweet fragrance. Rumduol grows wild across Cambodia and it’s a popular ornamental flower in parks and gardens.