J C Eames 161 White-shouldered Ibis have been counted at Western Siem Pang, Cambodia, confirming it as the species global stronghold Zoom In

Largest ever count of White-shouldered Ibis

23-07-2009

Conservationists from the Birdlife International Cambodia Programme and University of East Anglia (UEA), UK, recently counted the largest number of White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni ever recorded. At least 161 were counted; confirming that Western Siem Pang, Cambodia, is the single most important site for the species. The total number of White-shouldered Ibis is likely to be even higher than this figure, as many more roost sites are being found in Western Siem Pang.

“Western Siem Pang consistently yields the highest counts of this species anywhere in the world. I am thrilled we have broken our best ever count yet again”, said Jonathan Eames, Programme Manager of Birdlife International in Indochina.

"We just don’t know why we have so many White-shouldered Ibis at Western Siem Pang. My hunch is that the species is resident so we are not recording movements of birds from elsewhere. I also believe that cattle and buffalo stocking density is key to understanding the density and abundance of the species”, said Eames.

Western Siem Pang is home to Cambodia’s 'Big Five'. The site currently supports five Critically Endangered bird species. The other four are: Giant Ibis Thaumatibis gigantea, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris, and Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus.

“Western Siem Pang consistently yields the highest counts of this species anywhere in the world. I am thrilled we have broken our best ever count yet again” —Jonathan Eames, BirdLife

"The numbers of White-shouldered Ibis and the presence of populations of four other Critically Endangered species, make Western Siem Pang an irreplaceable site we have got to conserve”, Eames continued.

Western Siem Pang is currently unprotected. BirdLife has been active at the site for several years already, undertaking species monitoring and awareness activities. Together with the Forestry Administration, BirdLife is now actively advocating the designation of a Protected Forest covering a large part of the site.

“In order to save this species a great deal of research is required to understand its ecology and relationships with local people. As research continues we hope to provide concrete conservation recommendations for this species”, said UEA PhD student Hugh Wright.

White-shouldered Ibis is one of the species benefitting from the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme. In August 2007, In Focus became a Species Champion for White-shouldered Ibis. The programme is spearheading greater conservation action, awareness and funding support for all of the world's most threatened birds, starting with the 192 species classified as Critically Endangered, the highest level of threat.