Wildlife viewing
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Wildlife viewing
How tough or rough is it to get to the remoter regions in order to see wildlife . I have a particular liking for birds . From what I have picked up living here , most the remaining diversity is found at the border regions . How to get there and where to to stay. Is reasonable accommodation available ? I am sixty six and a tad fucked by a visit from the big C two years ago . Am ok now but long forest treks are out . Short ones I can manage . Would appreciate any advice .
Admit nothing . Blame everyone . Be bitter .
Really hoping this isn't code speakheartymarty wrote:How tough or rough is it to get to the remoter regions in order to see wildlife . I have a particular liking for birds . From what I have picked up living here , most the remaining diversity is found at the border regions .
- Hanno
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Your best options are the places managed by Sam Veasna Center: Thmat Boey, Preah Veang, Sima Forest. Access is reasonable easy. You will not see much wildlife, all been hunted to near extinction, but the birding is very good including species impossible to see elsewhere (Giant and White-shouldered Ibis, Vultures, White-winged Duck, etc.)
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
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Honestly, Thailand or Laos are probably the better option. Thailand especially has easy access to parks that aren't too damaged or are recovering. Laos still has true wilderness (ie. hard to access and mountainous).
Cambodia wise, Stung Treng has a decent water bird area accessible for not too much through a guesthouse. Rattanakiri has some trekking rainforest again accessible through a tour because it's half a day away from any major population center. Cambodia is probably the worst country in SE Asia for DIY wildlife viewing because lowland forests are easy to flatten. Most of the Mondulkiri forests are a complete disappointment or have been demolished in the last decade, while the lowland stuff was destroyed long ago.
Cambodia wise, Stung Treng has a decent water bird area accessible for not too much through a guesthouse. Rattanakiri has some trekking rainforest again accessible through a tour because it's half a day away from any major population center. Cambodia is probably the worst country in SE Asia for DIY wildlife viewing because lowland forests are easy to flatten. Most of the Mondulkiri forests are a complete disappointment or have been demolished in the last decade, while the lowland stuff was destroyed long ago.
I second Hanno's suggestions. It will be much easier to do some bird-watching on the Tonle Sap lake rather than in the forests.
I guess that to observe wildlife in their natural habitat, you would have to go, as you rightly noted, to some of the most remote areas, near the borders, in still existing forests and to go there is no fun ride (well, depends if you're up for a very bumpy and enduring ride in a pick-up or 4WD or a hot, dusty ride on the back of a motorbike.)
I recently went to Ratanakiri for work, and our team went off road in difficult-to-reach villages and places near the border with Vietnam.
That was an eye-opener with regards to both the lacking infrastructure conditions and the still pristine environment. It would be worth to go only if you have a tough vehicle and a skilled driver.
I guess that to observe wildlife in their natural habitat, you would have to go, as you rightly noted, to some of the most remote areas, near the borders, in still existing forests and to go there is no fun ride (well, depends if you're up for a very bumpy and enduring ride in a pick-up or 4WD or a hot, dusty ride on the back of a motorbike.)
I recently went to Ratanakiri for work, and our team went off road in difficult-to-reach villages and places near the border with Vietnam.
That was an eye-opener with regards to both the lacking infrastructure conditions and the still pristine environment. It would be worth to go only if you have a tough vehicle and a skilled driver.
- Lucky Lucan
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There are loads of birds in the wetlands around the capital. Try down near Boueng Choueng Ek.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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How far off the highway? I almost stumbled into Vietnam on the main road, flat as a pancake. Took an almost 3 hour drive up a dirt road suggested by locals and disappointingly never saw any real rainforest.Joon wrote:I second Hanno's suggestions. It will be much easier to do some bird-watching on the Tonle Sap lake rather than in the forests.
I guess that to observe wildlife in their natural habitat, you would have to go, as you rightly noted, to some of the most remote areas, near the borders, in still existing forests and to go there is no fun ride (well, depends if you're up for a very bumpy and enduring ride in a pick-up or 4WD or a hot, dusty ride on the back of a motorbike.)
I recently went to Ratanakiri for work, and our team went off road in difficult-to-reach villages and places near the border with Vietnam.
That was an eye-opener with regards to both the lacking infrastructure conditions and the still pristine environment. It would be worth to go only if you have a tough vehicle and a skilled driver.
- Hanno
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As mentioned earlier, still some good birds around Sima. I think I am still the only person that has managed to get a photo of an Orange-necked Partridge up there. There are still a few Peafowl and Pheasant holding on as well and all this from the road or nearby.
The lowland forests have suffered a lot but the Ibises and Vultures are still easy to see in a few localities and again, these cannot be seen in Thailand or Laos. I do agree that the infrastructure is better in Thailand, just came back from Kaeng Krachan, but it is not all that bad here (yet). And I have done a fair bit of birding here.
The lowland forests have suffered a lot but the Ibises and Vultures are still easy to see in a few localities and again, these cannot be seen in Thailand or Laos. I do agree that the infrastructure is better in Thailand, just came back from Kaeng Krachan, but it is not all that bad here (yet). And I have done a fair bit of birding here.
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
That was off National Road 78. Trying to pinpoint the area on Google Maps. It might be here, because we had to cross the river (which was probably Prek Drang).penisjokeforaname wrote:How far off the highway? I almost stumbled into Vietnam on the main road, flat as a pancake. Took an almost 3 hour drive up a dirt road suggested by locals and disappointingly never saw any real rainforest.Joon wrote:I recently went to Ratanakiri for work, and our team went off road in difficult-to-reach villages and places near the border with Vietnam.
That was an eye-opener with regards to both the lacking infrastructure conditions and the still pristine environment. It would be worth to go only if you have a tough vehicle and a skilled driver.
The crossing was at a Jarai community village. Pictures I took from the Western bank:
And this shows the truck path conditions in the forest on the Eastern side of the river.
The forest was no rainforest or tropical jungle, but it was very much out in the nowhere, quite remote. No network coverage for cellcard in that area.
I did think though that nature lovers and naturalists would love trekking and camping there to study and observe the fauna and flora.
On a completely off-topic, neat side note, I found some interesting web pages about US war operations in Vietnam at the border with Cambodia as I googled "Prek Drang River."
In his memoir It Doesn't Take a Hero, General Schwarzkopf recounted, while a major, he accompanied the ARVN Airborne Brigade - which would be upgraded to a division in December 1965 - in an operation in the Ia Drang valley at the end of 1965.
http://www.generalhieu.com/iadrang_schwarzkopf-2.htm
http://www.generalhieu.com/pleime_count ... rang-2.htm
http://www.sacei07.org/VW65_NgoQuangTruong.html
- vladimir
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Hanno, what birds of prey have you seen here?
Any online/downloadable books?
I id some conservation stuff with Black eagles, bateleurs, martial eagles, fish eagles and eagle owls back in the day, my neighbour raised a crowned eagle, intimidating mofo.
Any online/downloadable books?
I id some conservation stuff with Black eagles, bateleurs, martial eagles, fish eagles and eagle owls back in the day, my neighbour raised a crowned eagle, intimidating mofo.
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
- Lucky Lucan
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I've often seen Shikras around the city:
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
- horace
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If you take the ferry from Naga over to Arey Ksat ( or whatever it's called) and follow the road east until you have to turn left or right , turn right and go about 10 or 12K and on the left hand side is a vast wetland with tonnes of birds and insects, one can also hire small boats with a driver/pilot who will take you out into the wetland. Make a day trip of it and visit Barong an island bang in the middle of the wetland, it's like the place that time forgot and the locals are actually a little afraid of the whiteman.
Edit, Barong is/was the only place I have been in Cambodia where the mothers offered up their children for adoption, not for human trafficking but straight forward "we have too many kids , we can't look after them all, why don't you pick one and take it home with you". Weird place
Edit, Barong is/was the only place I have been in Cambodia where the mothers offered up their children for adoption, not for human trafficking but straight forward "we have too many kids , we can't look after them all, why don't you pick one and take it home with you". Weird place
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
- Hanno
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I do not know of any online books, I use the "Birds of SE Asia" by Robson.vladimir wrote:Hanno, what birds of prey have you seen here?
Any online/downloadable books?
I id some conservation stuff with Black eagles, bateleurs, martial eagles, fish eagles and eagle owls back in the day, my neighbour raised a crowned eagle, intimidating mofo.
Birds of prey seen in Cambodia: Osprey, Black-winged Kite, Black Baza, Crested Serpent Eagle, Red-headed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pied Harrier, Crested Goshawk, Shikra, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Black Kite, Rufous-winged Buzzard and Peregrine.
Shikra are common in cities and towns as there is plenty of food from the people making "merit" by releasing half-dead caged birds. Around the Victoria there must be 5 pairs, the little Pagoda across is like meals-on-wheels for them.
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
I'd suggest that you research some of the posts that sunsang made.
I refuse to go out with nothing more than a whimper followed by a small farting sound and a shit stain on my bed sheets..
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
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