PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Two Cambodian youths joined the International Tiger Youth Summit and pledged their participation in tiger and wildlife conservation in Cambodia's natural forest habitats, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Cambodia said in a statement on Friday.

The virtual summit was organized by WWF-India and WWF-Tigers on Thursday.

Sapor Long, a 19-year-old Cambodian delegate who attended the summit, said it is truly important for youth in Cambodia and the world to join hands in raising their voices for tigers and pledge their support for conserving the species for the benefit of nature and human beings.

"Without waiting any longer, we need to mobilize more participation from young people in Cambodia to support the tiger conservation efforts by the royal government, WWF and other partners," she said.

Sapor said wildlife deserves to be protected, and young people have to join hands to protect them and be their voice before they go globally extinct.

"I wish to see tiger come back to Cambodia, thus I would be proud to tell my kids I am taking a small part in this great effort," she said.

The summit is organized every 12 years during the Year of the Tiger and brings together young people from 13 tiger range countries to highlight the importance of securing forest habitats and prey for tiger conservation.

Fayanin Man, another Cambodian youth delegate for the summit, said that tigers may have been gone from Cambodia's natural forests, but the species still holds great significance to him spiritually and ecologically.

"I have heard stories that tigers were once roaming the natural forests around us, and I have faith that with the right actions, Cambodia can see tigers in the wild once again in the future. Our generation hopes to facilitate this effort," he said.

The role of youth in wildlife conservation is increasingly important in Cambodia and globally, particularly with the environmental challenges the world is facing today.

Seng Teak, WWF-Cambodia country director, said engaging youth in environmental education and helping them build relationships with nature are crucial to ensuring a more sustainable future.

"I congratulate the participation of the Cambodian youth in the International Tiger Youth Summit where they send their message together with other young people from the tiger range countries, calling on governments and relevant stakeholders to recommit to the big cat conservation," he said.

According to the WWF, the last tiger in Cambodia was photographed by a camera trap in 2007 in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary of Mondulkiri province, and in 2016, wildlife scientists declared the big cat is functionally extinct in the kingdom.

It added that tiger reintroduction in Cambodia remains a long-term conservation goal and the forests in the eastern plains remain a globally irreplaceable conservation landscape for realizing the reintroduction ambition. Enditem

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