The Thai military attack on Cambodia’s Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary has had a devastating impact on wildlife. A mother Asian elephant and her newborn calf were found dead by forest guards and local residents.
The Ministry of Environment said the two died from shrapnel from a bomb. The incident took place near a stream in the O’Skaach area of Preah Vihear province. The tragic incident has caused deep concern across the country.
Horrible Injury Marks
Initial examinations showed that the mother elephant, weighing about 500 kg, had clear signs of bomb fragments on her body. Due to severe injuries, she gave birth prematurely. Unfortunately, the calf, weighing about 80 kg, also did not survive.
The elephant’s bloody footprints had been visible in the area since 14 December. These signs raised fears that the animal was seriously injured.
Rescue Operation Fails
Later, the provincial environment department and the Wildlife Conservation Society jointly launched a rescue operation. However, the rescue team could not reach the area in time due to the vast area of protected forest and ongoing border clashes. The dense forest and security risks made the operation more complicated.
Finally, on 22 December, 2025 it was confirmed that both the mother elephant and the calf were dead. This failure has caused deep pain for those involved.
Environment Minister’s anger
Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth strongly condemned the incident. He directly called it an “environmental crime“. According to him, attacks on protected forests and biodiversity are completely prohibited under international environmental and humanitarian law.
He also said that these attacks directly threaten not only humans but also wildlife. This is seriously disrupting the natural balance.
Endangered Biodiversity
Cambodia currently has more than 600 Asian elephants, which are listed as endangered by the IUCN. The species is also protected under Appendix I of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Officials said this is the first elephant death in northern Cambodia in nearly a decade. If the ongoing border conflict continues, the protected areas will be at further risk. Therefore, it is now imperative to draw international attention.
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