The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre provides a natural refuge for victims of Southeast Asia's illegal wildlife trade. The government of Cambodia established PTWRC as the country's only official centre for placing wildlife rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. While the Forestry Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries are the official agencies responsible for the Rescue Centre, Wildlife Alliance has helped to support and manage PTWRC since 1999 because it is an essential component of fighting the illegal wildlife trade and preventing the extinction of Cambodia's native wildlife.

Wildlife Alliance has worked hand-in-hand with Cambodian authorities to design strategies and provide resources to care for these animals and enable them to be returned to the wild wherever appropriate. Wildlife Alliance has supported the construction of many specialized enclosures for endangered wildlife (gibbons, elephants, small mammals, reptiles) to enable them to be provided with humane care and the possibility of rehabilitation for release into the wild. Major programs for CRW include an acclaimed gibbon rehabilitation program, the construction of new enclosures for water birds, elephants, Siamese crocodiles, Eld's deer, and other species, the development of a water system, and ongoing outreach to visitors.

Under Wildlife Alliance's Care for Rescued Wildlife program, all rescued animals are provided large, natural enclosures, an excellent natural diet, and world-class veterinary care should they need it. This enables the animals to be prepared for release into the wild if possible, or cared for over the course of their lifetimes if medical or other reasons prohibit their release.

The Cambodian government established the Wildlife Rescue Centre as a much needed place to house rescued wildlife, but it also serves as Cambodia's premier zoological collection. The need for a haven for Cambodia's rapidly disappearing wildlife is essential as natural habitats are being lost and the trade in wild animals and their parts increases. The PTWRC houses around 90 species of wildlife, many of which are considered to be globally threatened, comprising over 1,100 individuals. The number of animals requiring care at PTWRC has risen significantly in recent years and continues to grow as more animals are rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.

The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre is still in its infancy but has made remarkable progress with much assistance from non-governmental organizations and other groups. With the assistance of these organizations, and scientific and conservation partnerships with zoos and wildlife groups around the world, PTWRC is becoming a park and rescue centre of international standing. It has been featured on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 as well as print and broadcast media outlets around the world. 

The regenerating forest of PTWRC is an ideal area for the soft release of many species, including long tailed macaque, leopard cat, muntjac, sambar, mongoose, civet and birds including pelicans, adjutant and painted storks, mynahs, doves, parakeets, and owls. Additionally, the Wildlife Rescue Centre is open to the public, providing education and awareness to national and international visitors about Cambodia's indigenous wildlife and the threats that Wildlife Alliance is confronting – habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade. The Centre serves as a zoological garden to educate the public on conservation issues and receives more than 200,000 visitors each year, the vast majority of them Cambodian. This makes PTWRC an ideal centre for environmental education and conservation awareness programs, in which Cambodians can learn about and strive to protect their nation's natural heritage.

The Wildlife Rescue Centre welcomes international visitors.  It is situated approximately 40 km outside Phnom Penh, inside 2,300 hectares of protected forest. 

Wildlife Alliance gratefully acknowledges the many private and public supporters of the Care for Rescued Wildlife programs.