Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Emerging Markets›Cambodia weighs reintroducing tigers, villagers raise…
Cambodia weighs reintroducing tigers, villagers raise safety fears
Conservationists cite potential benefits for landscapes, biodiversity and tourism as Cambodia seeks to restore a long-missing apex predator.
Cambodia is considering reintroducing tigers, a move drawing public concern from villagers who say they have vivid memories of past attacks, according to SCMP Economy citing reporting by Agence France-Presse.
In the Cambodian rainforest where residents tap trees for resin, Pan Sok described an incident more than 30 years ago in which a relative was taken by a tiger while he watched, saying they could not help as the relative screamed.
Cambodia’s last confirmed tiger sighting was captured in camera trap footage from 2007, but conservationists say reintroduction could become possible in the near term.
According to Jimmy Borah of Indian environmental group Aaranyak, who consults for Cambodia’s government on the effort, bringing back tigers could help protect landscapes, restore an iconic apex predator and boost tourism.