The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue centre is located 36 kilometres south of the capital Phnom Penh. Entrance fee for foreigners is $5 for adults and $2 for children. To visit the centre you will need to take a tuk tuk (an unpleasant 2 hour ride each way), a taxi, or book on an organised tour. No one speaks english at the centre so an organised tour might be the best way to visit the centre.
The centre was established in 1995. It covers an area of over 6,000 acres. Phnom Tamao is the largest zoo in Cambodia. Since 2001 the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre has been run by the Cambodian Forestry Administration in partnership with the wildlife alliance.
This wonderful wildlife sanctuary for rescued animals is home to gibbons, sun bears, elephants, tigers, lions, deer, ginormous pythons and a massive bird enclosure. They were all taken from poachers or abusive owners and receive care and shelter here as part of a sustainable breeding program. Wherever possible animals are released back into the wild once they have recovered. The centre operates breeding programs for a number of globally threatened species.
Phnom Tamao at last count housed more than 1,000 animals from more than 100 species, many of which are categorised as endangered or threatened.
The highlight of the centre is the ‘Free the Bears’ section which has an interesting display and a large population of rescue Asian brown bears and sun bears. You can help volunteer to look after the bears on the Wildlife Alliance website.
For elephant lovers there are also elephants to visit. You can buy sugar cane and bananas from nearby vendors to feed them.
If you want to visit rescued elephants in a forested sanctuary in Mondulkiri Province please click on this link to direct you to the Mondulkiri Project’s home page.
