Conservation efforts in Cambodia’s wild northeast have achieved remarkable results. Thanks to the herding and relocation efforts of conservation groups, these 16 critically endangered Banteng—wild cattle indigenous to Southeast Asia—are prone to use their strength and speed to avoid poachers. For the first time, the operation in Siem Pang also deployed a helicopter to herd the animals. First as part of a three-day collaboration, and then again where the main attraction was a mass-capture funnel trap. This creative solution represents a significant victory in the long battle to save this imperiled species.
Banteng are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species. Forests and grasslands ecosystems, where they originally occupied in greater abundance. Today, less than 1,000 Banteng remain on the landscape. Their populations have been declining primarily due to targeted hunting, logging and industrial development.
The Relocation Operation
The herding operation was part of a collaborative effort between the conservation organizations Rising Phoenix and Siem Pang. Over the course of three days, the teams successfully located and herded the 16 Banteng into a mass-capture funnel trap. Once trapped, the animals were transferred into safe-holding cages, through which they could be safely loaded onto a truck for relocation to a wildlife sanctuary.
Helicopter-assisted funnel trap to capture the Banteng – a new frontier in conservation technology and methodology. Until now, ground-based approaches have made it difficult for management of such elusive wildlife. The aerial support proved invaluable in improving the precision and efficiency with which the herding process could be carried out. This kept the animals and conservation team safe.
The Importance of Banteng Conservation
Banteng play an important role in keeping the biodiversity of their ecosystems intact. As keystone herbivores, they are crucial ecosystem engineers who create and maintain the habitats that countless other wildlife depend on. Today’s declining population of Banteng due to habitat loss and human encroachment greatly threatens their species survival. In addition, it’s extremely damaging to the terrestrial health of the forest and grassland ecosystems they inhabit.
Conservationists said that protecting the Banteng is very important not only because of their ecological importance. We’re doing everything we can to move these animals to a sanctuary soon. Our hope is to provide a healthier, safer habitat where they can flourish away from the perils of human impacts. The successful relocation operation is a promising narrative for what could be the future of conservation efforts throughout Southeast Asia.