Virachey National Park - A treasure trove of biodiversity and culture
Year of Declaration: | 2003 |
Area (hectares): | 338,057 |
Area and Location: |
332,500 hectares; Taveng and Vouen Sai Districts, Ratanakiri Province and Siem Pang District, Stung Treng Province, Cambodia.
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Description: |
One of only two areas in Cambodia known to support Germain’s peacock pheasant; the park harbors about 75% of Cambodia’s “humid medium elevation” habitats; the streams from the mountains of Virachey significantly flow to the Mekong River.
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Habitat Types: |
Dense semi-evergreen lowland and montane forests; upland savannah; bamboo thickets; and occasional patches of mixed deciduous forests; secondary grass and scrub land formations, marshes.
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Unique Flora: |
Dipterocarps and tall tree species (Sindora, Lagerstroemia, Pterocarpus, Dalbergia, Diospyros and Sterculi); Burretiodendron hsienmu; Malva nuts
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Unique Fauna: |
Germain’s peacock pheasant; Siamese fireback; red-collared woodpecker; sunbirds and flower peckers; hornbills; elegant Siamese pheasants; Shy pitta; wild dog or dhole (Cuonal pinus); Asiatic black bear; Asiatic softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea); Asian giant pond turtle ( Heosemys grandis) and impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa).
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Ecotourism Destination and Activities: |
Ethnic minority peoples living around the Park (Kreung, Kavet, Brao, Lao and Lun) and their activities related with traditional food and medicines; the Park’s massif containing a range of mountains that reach towards the Lao PDR border; the remoteness and “wilderness feel” of the park is its biggest aesthetic and tourist values; and sacred burial or ritual sites. Visitors can go bird watching, mountain climbing, trekking and boating in the river.
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Biological Richness: | • 11 species of amphibians • 15 species of mammals • 100 species of birds • 26 species of amphibians • 35 species of reptiles • 37 species of fish • 19 species of katydid • 30 species of ants |