SIEM REAP – Animal rescue plays a huge part in Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium. More than just putting animals in a safe haven for display so that many people can learn about them and understand them, AWA also rescues animals from unsafe places, protects them and releases them back into the wild when possible. 

Monkeys ViVi and GiGi are among those rescued. They were part of an illegal trade and may have been abandoned.

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ViVi, a common marmoset, with her species originally from South America, made her way to Asia via an unfortunate pet trade. Tethered by her previous owner, one of ViVi’s legs had to be amputated by medical specialists due to injury. Small, fluffy, and playful, ViVi now finds her new home at AWA.

GiGi, an Indo-Chinese langur, was reported by a person who noticed the presence of a monkey living in a village near AWA as she was stealing food from people. Due to her familiarity with humans, specialists determine her as an abandoned or escaped pet. According to AWA, this species in the wild is shy and often disappears deep into the forest at the first sight of humans.

Neither monkey is on display for visitors yet. Not all animals can be released back into the wild. The circumstances are determined by their natural environment whether it is safe for them.

AWA has also conserved and rescued other endangered animals such as ling cobras, royal turtles, Siamese crocodiles and Tonle Sap freshwater snakes.

In this interview, Cambodianess spoke with Mark Dainty, an animal curator at Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium, to understand more about the work of animal rescue, what makes an animal eligible to be rescued, the challenges, the long-term commitment, as well as AWA’s effort in educating younger generations to understand the precious life of wild animals.

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