A groundbreaking survey of Cambodia’s Virachey National Park unveiled a treasure trove of endangered species previously undocumented in the country, spotlighting urgent calls for enhanced conservation measures, environmentalists announced on Wednesday.

The extensive survey, conducted over several years, revealed a range of rare wildlife, including critically endangered species such as large-antlered muntjacs and pangolins.

The research, carried out by Fauna & Flora in collaboration with local communities, confirmed the park’s pivotal role as a biodiversity haven.

The 405,000-hectare park, located in Cambodia's northeast and bordering Laos and Vietnam, emerged as a sanctuary for unique fauna and flora.

Over 150 cameras were deployed during the survey, enabling the documentation of 89 species, including 20 globally threatened ones. Among these were the red-shanked douc langur, clouded leopard, Sunda pangolin, dhole, and sun bear.

Fauna & Flora's Cambodia programme director, Pablo Sinovas, expressed pride in the findings. “This survey reaffirms the park's importance as a biodiversity stronghold and provides compelling evidence to galvanise increased conservation efforts,” Sinovas said.

The research also identified nine species never before recorded in Cambodia, including Sokolov's glass lizard, the Vietnamese leaf-toed gecko, and the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac.

Sinovas described the park as “a biodiversity hotspot, a vital carbon sink, and home to a rich diversity of indigenous communities.”

However, Sinovas issued a stark warning about escalating threats to the region. He cited habitat destruction driven by agriculture, infrastructure projects, and other land uses as critical challenges.

“Snaring has caused 'empty forest syndrome' in some areas, where wildlife, particularly medium- and large-sized mammals, has been driven to local extinction,” he added.

Environmentalists highlighted similar concerns across Cambodia, particularly in the Central Cardamoms region, home to over 500 species.

They pointed to illegal logging, poaching, and sand dredging as persistent dangers.

Critics have also accused the Cambodian government of allowing the clearance of protected forests for commercial ventures, including rubber plantations, sugarcane cultivation, and hydropower development.