AKP Phnom Penh, May 24, 2026 —

A total of 40 Royal Turtle hatchlings successfully emerged during the 2026 breeding season in Cambodia, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Cambodia.

This is one of the biggest achievements for Cambodia’s turtle conservation team this year, led by the Department of Fisheries Conservation of the General Directorate of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in collaboration with WCS Cambodia.

The 40 Southern River Terrapin hatchlings, locally known as the Royal Turtle, came from 50 eggs found in three nests discovered by the conservation team in February 2026 along the Sre Ambel River System in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces.

The discovery brings new hope for the conservation of this Critically Endangered species. In 2025, conservation teams did not find any Royal Turtle nests in the wild.

All hatchlings were transported to the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre (KKRCC), where they will receive proper care before being released back into the wild. This helps increase their chances of survival in nature.

The successful discovery of the nests and hatchlings reflects the strong collaboration between the General Directorate of Fisheries, WCS Cambodia, local authorities, and fishing communities in protecting nesting beaches and habitats along the Sre Ambel River System, as well as preventing illegal activities, especially sand dredging and illegal fishing.

(Photo: WCS-Cambodia)

By C. Nika