Virachey National Park, nestled in the Annamite Mountains across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, has revealed an extraordinary array of biodiversity. A survey led by Fauna & Flora uncovered rare species like the Sunda pangolin, clouded leopard, and sun bear, alongside nine species never recorded in Cambodia before, including the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac and Vietnamese leaf-toed gecko.A pig-tailed macaque photographed during a camera trap survey in Virachey National Park. Fauna & Flora
Spanning over 3,000 square kilometers, the park remains largely unexplored. Researchers used camera traps and DNA analysis to document species, estimating the park houses around 2,000 groups of northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons, an endangered primate.
Despite its ecological importance, Virachey faces threats like deforestation, habitat loss, and snaring. Conservationists aim to use the data to strengthen protection strategies, preserving this biodiversity hotspot for wildlife and the indigenous communities reliant on its resources. The park also serves as a vital carbon sink, contributing to climate mitigation efforts.