Cambodia eyes tiger comeback with Indian imports

Cambodia is preparing to reintroduce tigers nearly two decades after the species was declared extinct in the wild, unveiling plans to import Bengal tigers from India.

The last confirmed sighting of a tiger in Cambodia came from a camera trap in 2007. By 2016, conservationists declared the animals locally extinct, following years of poaching, habitat loss and the trade in tiger parts. Those pressures remain, with snares still threatening large mammals and the country’s Indochinese leopard declared functionally extinct in 2023.

Officials hope to release Bengal tigers into Kravanh National Park in the Cardamom Mountains, one of Cambodia’s largest remaining forest landscapes. A soft‑release enclosure has already been built, and a national tiger action plan approved. Supporters see the move as a chance to restore an apex predator and revitalise ecosystems.

But questions linger. Tigers need abundant prey, and studies suggest the landscape may only support a small founder population of around five animals. Such numbers risk inbreeding and demand long‑term management. Logging, roads and hydropower projects continue to fragment the habitat, making enforcement critical if the programme is to succeed.

Local consultation also appears incomplete. Interviews by Mongabay found many nearby residents had not been formally informed. Some expressed concern about safety, livestock losses and restrictions on forest access, which remains vital for their livelihoods.

India’s success in rebuilding its tiger population over recent decades offers hope, but experts warn Cambodia’s effort will require sustained protection, prey recovery and genuine community involvement.

If successful, the reintroduction would mark a landmark conservation story for Cambodia. Whether it becomes a recovery tale or a cautionary lesson will depend on how well the country balances ecological realities with the needs of the people living closest to the tigers’ future home.

-2026-06-14