SIEM REAP – Hundreds of freshwater and marine creatures are on display at Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium but it takes teams of specialists and a web of pumps, pipes and filters behind the scenes to keep them healthy. 

More than a million liters of water are cleaned and oxygenated every day to maintain the ocean and river environments.

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Animal curator Mark Dainty conducts “Back of House” tours to observe the technical and logistical challenges. 

Freshwater and saltwater reservoirs hold 500,000 litres and 600,000 litres respectively, along with smaller fish tanks and other habitats for crocodiles, turtles, snakes and otters.

From feeding to cleaning and from lighting to medication, a system of solar power, fossil fuel generators, batteries and provincial power supply are needed to ensure that the system keeps running smoothly. 

“The fish are basically on life support, so we need to do everything we can to keep the tanks running,” Dainty said. 

On the tour, visitors can also see the quarantine area for aquatic species where they are kept and monitored before joining other fish in the main tanks. Visitors see also how fish are fed, as well as hospital tanks for sick fish.

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