Lomphat’s health shows signs of recovery Som Sotheary, Khmer Times January 6, 2025 See link <https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501619083/lomphats-health-shows-signs-of-recovery/> for photo. An injured elephant calf rescued in December last year is now on the road to recovery, with the animal’s health showing significant improvement since being brought to safety. In December last year, the 5-month-old female named Lomphat was discovered near the headquarters of Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in eastern Cambodia in a critical state. She suffered a severe wound to her front right leg caused by a snare, a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by the human-made hazards. The elephant calf was also being chased by a pack of dogs when she was spotted by a Ministry of Environment team. The team promptly captured Lomphat and requested immediate aid from the Wildlife Alliance veterinary team. They decided to take her to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre in Takeo province to provide her with the specialised treatment required, given the severity of her illness and her inability to feed herself. According to Wildlife Alliance Website, Lomphat weighed 138kg when rescued and is beginning her road to recovery with the keepers at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre after a complex rescue effort. “Lomphat’s story is a stark reminder of the increasing human-elephant conflict in Cambodia,” it said. “Habitat loss due to deforestation is forcing elephants out of their natural environment, leading them to venture into human settlements in search of food. Crop raids and injuries from hazards like snares have become alarmingly common, placing both humans and wildlife in precarious situations.” According to video footage from Lomphat’s care team, the elephant calf is in better condition than before but despite that, the leg has still not fully healed. Lomphat is still unable to eat anything, and only drinks 900 grammes of milk powder per day. “Lomphat is in better condition than before, and the leg injury is also improving. It has been gradually gaining weight,” the elephant’s care team said, adding, “After Lomphat arrived at Tamao zoo, the number of visitors to the zoo has increased significantly,” Lomphat currently weighs more than 150 kilogrammes. This rescue came shortly after another successful operation involving Chanam, a 2-year-old elephant found separated from her herd in Mondulkiri province. Her rescue, relocation, and subsequent recovery at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre underscore the ongoing need for conservation efforts and rapid response mechanisms. Lomphat’s rescue is a call to action to continue addressing the challenges of deforestation, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict, ensuring a brighter future for elephants and their natural habitats. Asian elephants are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only 40,000–50,000 remaining in the wild, primarily in India and Sri Lanka. In Cambodia, an estimated 400–600 wild elephants live in protected areas such as Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501619083/lomphats-health-shows-signs-of-recovery/#google_vignette