AKP Kampot, March 27, 2025 --

Officials managing the Anlong Pring Landscape Protected Area have reported that the Sarus cranes' foraging and residency at Anlong Pring Lake in Kampong Trach district, Kampot province, have extended longer than in previous years.

Currently, 69 cranes remain at the lake. Experts attribute this prolonged stay to the "Crane-Friendly Rice Field" initiative, favorable weather conditions, and increased community awareness.

Mr. Chhim Meng, Director of the Anlong Pring Landscape Protected Area, stated on Mar. 27 that the Sarus cranes' foraging and residency during the 2024-2025 season have been longer than previous seasons. This year, the cranes began arriving at Anlong Pring Lake in early December 2024, and as of the fourth week of March 2025, 69 cranes are still feeding and residing in the natural lake. Only eight cranes have departed thus far.

In contrast, during the previous year, the cranes had left Anlong Pring Lake by early March, heading towards Oddar Meanchey province before continuing to their breeding grounds in Preah Vihear, Mondulkiri, and Rattanakiri provinces.

Mr. Mom Rin, Head of the Anlong Pring Protected Area Community, identified two key factors contributing to the extended stay. Firstly, natural conditions, as the rainy season ended in late November 2024, causing water levels to recede and prompting the cranes to seek food and shelter in the area. Secondly, the implementation of the "Crane-Friendly Rice Field" programme, where partner organisations lease land around the lake, provide fertiliser and seeds to farmers, and require them to leave a portion of the rice fields unharvested as food for the cranes.

Mr. Rin added that over 200 local farming families have enthusiastically participated in the "Crane-Friendly Rice Field" programme.

Furthermore, increased community awareness regarding the benefits of wildlife conservation, facilitated by awareness campaigns conducted by relevant officials, has helped prevent the capture or killing of these rare birds. These factors have collectively contributed to a longer and safer stay for the Sarus cranes and other bird species at the Anlong Pring Landscape Protected Area.

By K. Rithy Reak