Former poachers protect rare water birds

A wildlife conservation scheme in Cambodia staffed by poachers-turned-gamekeepers has led to a dramatic recovery of the endangered bird population on Tonle Sap lake.

Seven species of water birds - the spot-billed pelican, milky stork, painted stork, lesser adjutant, greater adjutant, black-headed ibis and Oriental darter - increased up to 20-fold at Prek Toal at the edge of the lake, the region's largest freshwater reservoir which holds the largest - in some cases only - breeding populations of the large water birds.

The Wildlife Conservation Society said there were more than 20,000 birds in 2007, compared with 5,000 six years earlier after rampant harvesting of eggs and chicks. A seven-year round-the-clock monitoring programme of 30 rangers - including former poachers - led to the "remarkable comebacks".

"Prek Toal is the most important large water bird breeding colony in south-east Asia," said Tom Clements, the society's technical adviser in Cambodia. "In some cases Prek Toal supports up to 30% of the global population."