Data Zone
Country/territory: Cambodia
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i, A4iii (2003)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 12,659 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2010 | very unfavourable | medium | high |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2003 baseline)
The IBA comprises the Ang Tropeang Thmor Sarus Crane Conservation Area. The IBA is centred on an artificial lake, located 70 km to the north-west of Tonle Sap Lake. During the Angkorian period, from the 10th to the 13th century AD, a major causeway was constructed through the area, which led to increased water accumulation to the north. In 1976, during Pol Pot's Democratic Kampuchea regime, forced labor was used to convert an 11 km stretch of this causeway into a dam and to build a 9 km dyke perpendicular to it. However, the planned irrigation reservoir was never completed. Consequently, during the dry season, only the south-eastern corner of the reservoir remains inundated, although, at the height of the wet season, over 80% of the IBA is inundated. Seasonally inundated areas support seasonally inundated grassland, the northern portion of which is inundated for a shorter period each year and has been extensively converted to wet rice agriculture. This land has, however, only been irregularly used for a number of years. In the extreme north of the IBA, the habitat grades into open deciduous dipterocarp forest.The IBA is the most important non-breeding site for Sarus Crane Grus antigone in Cambodia and regularly supports a significant proportion of the global population of the eastern subspecies G. a. sharpii. In addition to Sarus Crane, the IBA regularly supports over 1% of the Asian biogeographic population of Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica, Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotus, Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans and Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. Furthermore, a large number of globally threatened and near-threatened species have been recorded at the IBA, including Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis (which probably breeds), White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni and Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius. Additionally the globally threatened Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus has been recorded at the site as a vagrant.
Key biodiversity
One Comb Duck recorded by Mundkur in March 1998 and 12 in June 1998. Sarus Cranes are only present in the dry season and leave the site to breeding areas elsewhere with the onset of rains in June. Also Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Brahminy Kite, Baya Weaver.
Non-bird biodiversity: The specific survey combined with all other sources recorded a total of 186 bird species at the site. Apart from the Globally Threatened Sarus Crane, a further eight Globally Threatened and six Globally Near Threatened bird species have been recorded. In addition, 28 bird species of regional conservation concern occur at the site. Elogated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) and Malayan Snail-eating Turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga) are collected by villagers from March-May and from June-July. Smooth-coated Otter, Common Palm Civet and Leopard Cat occur in that area as well but they are rare.[Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)]Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora ambionensis), Malayan Snail-eating Turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga), Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata).Eld's Deer (Cervus eldii)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ang Tropeang Thmor (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ang-tropeang-thmor-iba-cambodia on 22/11/2024.