AKP Phnom Penh, August 11, 2025 --

On the occasion of World Elephant Day, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling for a stronger commitment to Asian elephant conservation, urging the expansion of an "Asian Elephant Alliance" to better protect the species across its range.

The Eastern Plains Landscape in Cambodia's Mondulkiri province is a critical habitat for Asian elephants, home to an estimated 300 wild individuals. This makes the region one of the most significant elephant strongholds in the country. WWF-Cambodia is collaborating with other WWF offices across Asia to raise public awareness and promote more effective conservation measures.

WWF emphasised the urgent need for improved human-elephant coexistence. The organisation cited a recent example in Malaysia, where a young elephant was killed in a road accident, highlighting the importance of functional wildlife corridors and effective conflict prevention strategies.

In Mondulkiri, WWF-Cambodia and its partners are focused on enhancing the management of transboundary elephant corridors that connect Cambodia and Vietnam, ensuring elephants can move safely between the two countries.

To inspire the next generation of conservationists, WWF-Cambodia will soon host an educational field trip for over 100 students to the WWF outpost at Trapeang Thmear. The initiative aims to engage young people and encourage their active participation in wildlife protection.

WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

By K. Rithy Reak