Cambodian Safari Park’s Orangutan Collection

December 2004

IPPL recently learned that there is a huge wildlife theme park on the island of Koh Khong, Cambodia. The theme park, named Safari World, is 200 meters from the Thailand-Cambodia border. The park has a large collection of animals and has performing animal shows which feature orangutans and dolphins. It is associated with the huge Koh Kong International Resort. The resort’s web site http://www.kohkonginter.com/ advertises "Thai massage" and a casino.

IPPL does not know if this park is related to the Safari World near Bangkok that featured performing orangutans in "kick-boxing" shows until the Thai government closed the show down, as reported in the August 2004 issue of IPPL News.

It is not clear how the orangutans reached Cambodia. Reports reaching IPPL suggest that the total number of orangutans imported was 22. Orangutans are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any international transfer requires prior issuance of an import permit. Permits cannot be issued for importation of orangutans for commercial purposes.

Cambodian authorities have confirmed to IPPL that no import permits were issued for orangutans by the authority charged with issuing permits, which is the CITES Management Authority. Clearly the shipment(s) of orangutans into Cambodia were in violation of CITES.

It also appears likely that powerful and well-connected people in and out of Cambodia who believe themselves (and sadly may be) above the law are involved with the safari park. Smuggling of wildlife across the border by road would be relatively easy. IPPL is seeking information on the ownership of Safari World, Cambodia and information on the source of the orangutans.

The theme park is operated by people with very high "connections," as was made obvious by the fact that, at the park’s official opening ceremony on 25 January 2003, Samdech Hun Sen, Premier of Cambodia, made a speech. He stated,

Today my wife and I, accompanied by our grand-children have come to join you all to officially inaugurate the Safari World Zoo in Koh Kong. It is indeed a new achievement among various others that are taking shape in Cambodia in this time of peace culture. This zoo was built in just two years but it has proven to us that it is an international standard zoo...

The Cambodian Safari World is promoted on the Web site www.khmer.org/us/doc/doc944.htm (text unedited):

Koh Kong, Cambodia, is a Cambodian Safari Disney world. Many Tourist always visit this province because it has so many things to entertain people. Cambodia has changed so rapidly for last 20 years after the collapse of Khmer Rouge. Many foreigners have invested so much money with Cambodian economic. Especially, Cambodian American, Cambodian Canadian, Cambodian French, and Cambodian Australian have invested a lot of their time and money to help build Cambodia and Cambodian Economic. We predict in the future Cambodia will become prosperous like America, Japan, and other European countries. You can pick up MK vol. 12 from khmer e-shop if you want to see more about Cambodian Safari World. Please click here to watch Rang-Utans kick boxing.

If you click, you can watch the sickening spectacle of several minutes of "kick-boxing," featuring two fighting orangutans, one dressed in red shorts, the other in blue.

You can also check the web site www.kohkonginter.com/seaworld.htm to read about,

Dolphins & Sea Lion show We will welcome all of you with the most intelligent of marine creatures that entertain and impress you with their effortless mastery of the most difficult trick. Excitement with mee shows [IPPL does not know what "mee shows" are], Birds show, Urang-Utan show.

Sadly, Cambodia was devastated by civil war and outside intervention, and now understandably struggles to improve life for its people. However, it is unfortunate that this Buddhist nation tolerates animal abuse and exploitation. Cambodia has plenty to attract overseas visitors, including the spectacular monuments at Angkor Wat, Lake Tonle Sap, many lovely forests, and a host of beautiful and rare animals.

CAMBODIAN ORANGUTANS - PROTEST LETTERS NEEDED IPPL is disappointed that a country with a long tradition of practicing the Buddhist religion, which teaches compassion for animals, would be party to the cruel exploitation of orangutans smuggled into Cambodia. Please send courteous letters to ALL the officials listed below requesting 1) that Cambodia implement and enforce the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), of which it is a member, with no exemptions made for the rich and powerful; 2) that Cambodia impose a ban against the degrading exploitation of orangutans in "kick-boxing" and other shows at Koh Khong Safari World, and (3) that Cambodia confiscate the orangutans housed at Safari World and send them to Indonesia for rehabilitation. Postage from the United States to Cambodia costs 80 cents per ounce. His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni Royal Palace Phnom Penh, Cambodia H.E. Mok Mareth Minister of the Environment #48, Samdech Preah Sihanouk Tonle Bassac Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia His Excellency Ambassador Roland Eng Royal Embassy of Cambodia 4530 16th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20011 H.E. Chan Sarun Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries No 200 Norodom Blvd. Sangkat Tonle Basak Phnom Penh, Cambodia Participation in all letter-writing campaigns by our overseas members is very important If you live outside the United States, you can find a list of Cambodia’s embassies around the world at: http://www.embassy.org/cambodia/embassies.html

See related stories - The Safari World Orangutan Scandal
The Kick-Boxing Orangutans