The first is extinct throughout the Mekong with no sighing since the early 1960s, and the last is now down to only two pairs breeding along the Sesan, a Mekong tributary in Ratanakiri Province. All ground-nesting birds, their nests have always been vulnerable to collections by communities up and down the river. Without some form of protection a similar fate awaits the River Tern and other such birds confined to the river channel.
So far, it is only the remoteness of this area that has allowed these birds to survive. The length of the Mekong from Kraie to the Lao border has, in addition to the poor river access, even worse road access, and up until the late 1990s was largely off-limits due to security concerns.There are comparatively few villages and minimal human disturbance. This has resulted in the preservation of an extensive area of natural habitat not found anywhere else in the basin.
In recognition of the unique nature of this, the Mekong up stream from Stung Treng to the Lao border has been designated by the Cambodian government as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar conservation on Wetlands.However, the river downstream to Kratie, which is probably even more important for conservation of both fish stocks and globally unique biodiversity, remains unprotected.This remoteness has also meant that there are still discoveries to be made. The description of a bird species mainland Southeast Asia, yet in 2000 that’s exactly what happened here. The Mekong Wagtail is s small, black and white bird that is now known to be endemic to the Mekong.
So far, it is only the remoteness of this area that has allowed these birds to survive. The length of the Mekong from Kraie to the Lao border has, in addition to the poor river access, even worse road access, and up until the late 1990s was largely off-limits due to security concerns.There are comparatively few villages and minimal human disturbance. This has resulted in the preservation of an extensive area of natural habitat not found anywhere else in the basin.
In recognition of the unique nature of this, the Mekong up stream from Stung Treng to the Lao border has been designated by the Cambodian government as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar conservation on Wetlands.However, the river downstream to Kratie, which is probably even more important for conservation of both fish stocks and globally unique biodiversity, remains unprotected.This remoteness has also meant that there are still discoveries to be made. The description of a bird species mainland Southeast Asia, yet in 2000 that’s exactly what happened here. The Mekong Wagtail is s small, black and white bird that is now known to be endemic to the Mekong.
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