PhnomPenhPost-June 11, 2024
Wildlife outside the zoo is hard to spot without camera traps, but their meat can be found on unwritten menus – through the whispers of sellers – in some local restaurants in Koh Kong and several other provinces. As of April last year, when the first phase of the Ministry of Environment-led zero snaring campaign came to a close, at least 52 restaurants had “voluntarily” stopped selling wild game. Several more committed to cease serving such items during the second phase of the initiative.
With authorities vowing to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking, some NGOs are also working towards the same goal by educating the public to say no to bush meat.
USAID Cambodia Green Future Activity is one of the projects targeting the reduction of forest game consumption by promoting behavioural change among the public.
It created materials and messages about the dangers of purchasing and consuming meats such as red muntjac, wild pigs, snakes, turtles and deer, and launched the
“During the field testing of these messages, we learned that bush meat consumption exists for a number of reasons. Some mistakenly believe there are health benefits, while others view it as a status symbol,” said Ouk Sisovann, Chief of Party USAID Cambodia Green Future Activity, “If there is a demand, there will be a supply,” he said. Citing various research studies, he said bush meat can cause rabies, SARS, yellow fever, Lyme disease, West Nile, monkeypox, histoplasmosis and hantavirus.
He urged the public to see the great benefits of having natural fauna, such as turning wildlife-populated areas into ecotourism sites, which can generate income for the local community. “We encourage Cambodians to discuss this topic with their friends, family and communities to increase awareness about the dangers of buying and consuming bush meat,” he said. Read more at: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bush-meat-still-on-the-unwritten-menu-despite-joint-efforts-to-curb-poaching
