AKP Phnom Penh, December 24, 2025 --

Two wild elephants have been found dead due to wounds sustained during the recent military aggression along the border.

The two elephants – an adult female and her newborn calf – were discovered at the O’Skach point within the Preah Rokar-Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear province. The discovery was reported on Dec. 23 by park rangers and members of the local community.

The female elephant, weighing approximately 500 kilogrammes, suffered a severe wound caused by military explosives. The 80-kilogramme calf was miscarried and died as a result of the trauma to the mother.

Local forest foragers first reported seeing elephant footprints and bloodstains in the area on Dec. 14, 2025. In response, the Preah Vihear Provincial Department of Environment dispatched rangers from the Preah Rokar-Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary, in collaboration with wildlife research officers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), to investigate. However, the vastness of the forest and the ongoing military hostilities in the area prevented the team from locating and rescuing the animals in time.

H.E. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, stated that the military aggression has destroyed not only human lives and property but also invaluable natural resources and biodiversity.

During a lecture at the Royal Academy of Cambodia yesterday, the Minister emphasised that such aggression violates international law, which strictly prohibits attacks on the environment or nature conservation areas.

Currently, Preah Vihear province is home to approximately 20 wild elephants. They are known to migrate between the Dangrek mountain range on the Cambodia-Thailand border and the Cambodia-Laos border through the Chhep-Preah Rokar corridor.

By Heng Panha