KH028
Koh Kapik


Country/territory: Cambodia

IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2003)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 27,289 ha

NatureLife Cambodia
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2009 favourable high low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2003 baseline)
The IBA is situated to the south of Koh Kong provincial town, and comprises all areas of mangrove forest on Koh Kapik island and associated coastal areas on the mainland. The IBA supports the most intact mature mangrove forest in Cambodia and, arguably, in the whole of the Gulf of Thailand. The mangroves around Koh Kapik island are bisected by many creeks. Along the western coastline of the island, there are well developed mudflats, while the northern coastline is more sandy. There is a single village (Koh Kapik) on the island, where the main industry is fishing. Much of the IBA is included within Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary, and the southern parts, centred on the island, have been designated as Koh Kapik Ramsar site. The IBA is an important site for migratory waterbirds, including Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer and Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus. In addition, there are historical records of Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus from 1944, although there have been no recent records, and the current status of these globally vulnerable species at the IBA is unknown.

Key biodiversity
3649 waders of 17 species recorded in January 1996.

Non-bird biodiversity: Long tailed Macaque (Mamaca fascicularis) occurs in the mangrove. The best, most mature mangrove forest in Cambodia and arguably in the whole of Indochina and the gulf of Thailand.Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Koh Kapik (Cambodia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/koh-kapik-iba-cambodia on 23/11/2024.