As a country engaging actively with countries around the world in conserving the world's remaining elephants, Cambodia called for an end to all activities that threaten the existence of the animal and encouraged peaceful harmonisation between humans and elephants.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment, made the call when marking the World Elephant Day on Aug. 12.

According to the secretary of state, elephant has been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

One species of the animal, Asian elephants, are living under serious threat throughout their habitat due to poaching, trapping, human-elephant conflict and domestic, he said urging all stakeholders to take part in protecting the existence of elephants.

To be part of the solution for the issue, the Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with partner organisations have developed a ten-year action plan (2020-2029) for the conservation of the Asian elephants in Cambodia which costs about US$40.5 million.

The action plan focuses on six priorities: reducing habitat loss, conserving and reconnecting corridors and herds of wild elephants, strengthening law enforcement, preventing elephant poaching, reducing human-elephant conflicts, and building public awareness.

In Cambodia, there are about 400 to 600 Asian elephants, most of which live in the Cardamom Mountains, the northern plateau of the Tonle Sap and the highlands of Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri, and the country also has over 70 domestic elephants.

Studies in the last 60 to 70 years show that the number of Asian elephants across the world has decreased about 50 percent, while around 90 percent of their habitats have been lost.

Of a total of 39,463 to 47,427 Asian elephants living in the wild these days, around 75 percent of them are in India and Sri Lanka.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press