Animals in Cambodia

Below you can find a complete list of Cambodian animals. We currently track 161 animals in Cambodia and are adding more every day!

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.

Cambodian Animals

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Asian Elephant

Domesticated for hundreds of years!

Asian Giant Hornet

The largest wasp in the world!

Asian Palm Civet

It mainly eats mangos and coffee!

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Barb

There are over 2,000 known species!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Binturong

Also known as the Asian Bearcat!

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Burmese Python

These snakes can swallow their prey as whole.

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Cashmere Goat

Cashmere goat are named after Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan

Cat

First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cicada

Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans

Clouded Leopard

Has canines that can be two inches long!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab-Eating Macaque

Found throughout the South-East Asian jungles!

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Dhole

Only 2,000 left in the wild!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Elephant

Spends around 22 hours a day eating!

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Fishing Cat

Scoops fish out of the water using it's paw!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Lemur

The second pair of upper incisors in a flying lemur has a double root, which is unique for mammals.

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

There are 12 different species in the world!

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Bat

Among the largest bats in the world

Gecko

There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Gerbil

Originally known as the Desert Rat!

Gibbon

Found in dense jungles and tropical forests!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glow Worm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Horseshoe Crab

Changed little in over 500 million years!

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Indian Elephant

Found throughout south-east Asia!

Indochinese Tiger

Now thought to be extinct in China!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jerboa

Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!

King Cobra

They are the longest poisonous snake in the world.

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Leopard

Spends much of the time high in the trees!

Leopard Cat

There are 11 different species!

Liger

The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Loach

Have sharp spines below their eyes

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Lorikeet

The lorikeet has a long brush-like tongue with fine hairs on it

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Masked Palm Civet

Found throughout Asia, India and China!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mongoose

Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monitor Lizard

Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Myna Bird

For a nice price, the mynah bird makes a good pet.

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Pangolin

Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peacock

Most commonly found on the Indian mainland!

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 50 different species!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rhinoceros

It's horns are made from keratin!

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Siamese Fighting Fish

Can live in low-oxygen environments!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Sun Bear

The smallest species of bear in the world!

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tapir

Most closely related to horses and rhinos!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tiger

The largest feline in the world!

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Dragon

Spends most of it's time in the trees!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

White Tiger

None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

Actually a crustacean, not an insect!

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Zebu

There are around 75 different species!

Cambodian Animals List