Rare Greater Adjutant Storks Return Early to Cambodian Wetland Amidst Protection Challenges

AKP Phnom Penh, July 21, 2026 -- The endangered Greater Adjutant stork has made an earlier-than-usual return to Cambodia's Boeung Prek Lapov Landscape Protected Area this year. According to conservation organisation NatureLife Cambodia, three Greater Adjutants have been recorded at the site in Takeo province so far. While the large storks typically migrate to the wetland to feed between June and August or September depending on water levels, their arrival was observed earlier than customary this year, beginning in late May. The Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is a rare bird species subject to strict conservation efforts in Cambodia. Prior to 2024, the species was classified as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List. However, following sustained conservation programmes across its habitat range – particularly in Cambodia, home to Southeast Asia's largest breeding colony at the Prek Toal Ramsar Site – its status was downlisted to "Near Threatened." Despite the progress, environmental officials emphasise that high-level protection remains vital to ensure steady population recovery. Boeung Prek Lapov stands as Takeo province's primary wetland sanctuary, providing habitat for numerous threatened bird species. The sanctuary currently faces challenges, notably illegal land encroachment. To mitigate these risks, Cambodia's Ministry of Environment, provincial authorities, and partner organisations are actively finalising zoning plans and erecting boundary markers to enforce protection for the sanctuary. By K. Rithy Reak