PHNOM PENH, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Conservationists on Monday called for immediate action to strengthen law enforcement and legislation to end a poaching and snaring crisis that are increasingly threatening Cambodia's wildlife, according to a joint statement.

Secretary of state and spokesman of the Ministry of Environment Neth Pheaktra appealed to all people to stop consuming wild meat and all other wildlife products.

"We urge all people across Cambodia to say no to wild meat and participate in conserving the kingdom's natural resources," he said in the statement.

The statement was released after the Ministry of Environment and partners organized a "zero-snaring" campaign in northwestern Preah Vihear province. It was the third campaign in a series of eight following the first one held in Phnom Penh last March and the second convened in the northeast Stung Treng province in last April.

"Curbing the snaring crisis in Cambodia can only be achieved with society participation. This campaign is an effective channel for us to communicate the urgent requirement to stop consuming wildlife products before it is too late," Ken Sereyrotha, country program director for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to Cambodia, said.

"We urge everyone to heed this call, from those who create demand by consuming wildlife products, to those who trade in wildlife meats -- wildlife is a key part of the ecosystem, your action today will secure the future for tomorrow," he added.

The southeast Asian nation launched a "zero-snaring" campaign on March 3, aiming at eradicating all types of snaring in all Cambodia's protected areas.

"Key to the success of this campaign is that people need to recognize that by buying and eating bushmeat, they are driving this market, therefore destroying our forests, and putting their health at risk from disease," said Jackson Frechette, Greater Mekong Landscape director of the Conversation International (CI).

According to the Ministry of Environment, some 61,611 snares had been removed from 72 protected areas and biodiversity corridors across Cambodia in 2021. In average, a total of more than 40,000 snares were removed per year.

Seng Teak, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Cambodia country director, said snares are the most dangerous device to kill wild animals, estimating that only 20 percent of the traps in the protected areas have been removed, as other 80 percent remain in place. Enditem

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