After 25 years of transformative partnership in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Wildlife Alliance are entering a new chapter in their shared mission to protect Cambodia’s natural heritage.

Reflecting decades of joint capacity-building and a planned progression of the Care for Rescued Wildlife program, MAFF is now fully equipped to assume complete operational management. This transition enables Wildlife Alliance to expand its technical support toward complementary forest protection efforts across Cambodia, while continuing to collaborate closely with MAFF on the broader landscape of conservation.

The Care for Rescued Wildlife program has been implemented as a close partnership between MAFF and Wildlife Alliance. This transition reflects a jointly planned progression toward sustainable, national governance, with full management handover by MAFF at the end of September.

Throughout this partnership, MAFF and Wildlife Alliance have jointly developed local technical expertise, establishing robust standards in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and veterinary care. Both institutions stand unified in their confidence that these vital activities will thrive under full Cambodian management, under national administrative and budgetary frameworks, backed by the strong foundation built together.

Over the past quarter of a century, investments totaling $15,207,358 have been directed into the Care for Rescued Wildlife program. These resources supported essential operational needs including animal nutrition, specialized veterinary care, infrastructure upgrades, rehabilitation programs, and key facility installations such as the water filtration plant and boundary fence at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC), the Wildlife Release Station (WRS) in Koh Kong, and regional conservation sites in Angkor and Prambei Mom.

MAFF and Wildlife Alliance extend their deepest gratitude to the donor community, civil society partners, and key supporters who made this legacy possible including Suwanna Gauntlett, the Cardamom Carbon Company, Wallace Research Foundation, The Aspinall Foundation, the Eleonora McDonald Trust, and many others whose support protected Cambodia’s precious wildlife.

MAFF and Wildlife Alliance remain steadfast in their shared commitment to protecting Cambodia’s natural heritage. As MAFF leads center operations forward, Wildlife Alliance will continue complementary efforts across critical forest landscapes, including the Southern Cardamom and Samkos REDD+ Projects, safeguarding the wild habitats essential for the long-term survival of Cambodia’s rescued and native species.