Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center

Started by the Cambodian government in 1995 and supported by a variety of conservation NGO's, including Wildlife Alliance. Phnom Tamao is first and foremost a rescue and rehabilitation centre for animals, rescued from the illegal animal trafficking trade in Cambodia by Wildlife Alliance's Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team, and doubles as a zoo for visitors. The park is currently home to over 1200 rescued animals, with enclosures set within 6000 acres of protected forest. Animals include free-roaming monkeys, free-roaming deer, tigers, sunbears (small bears with characteristic golden fur around their neck), otters, crocodiles and elephants. The elephants include a footless young elephant rescued from a tiger trap in Mondulkiri province. Enough money was raised to fit him with a prosthetic leg, how wonderful! The centre is about an hour drive from Phnom Penh and transport information is in the visiting information below. There are different types of admission/tour you can take and will change the level of interaction you will be able to have as you go around. Independent - You can get a tuk-tuk from town for around US$25 or a shared taxi for around $7 (from the station near Central Market). Then just pay the US$5 entrance fee to the park where you can get a map. If you do this option it's recommended that for a minimum donation of US$10. You may ask for an English speaking guide (if there is one available) to take you around the park. They will be able to give you information about the park and share some of the rescue stories of the animals. All the following options involve transport to/from Phnom Penh and you will need to arrange directly with the organisations: Wildlife Alliance Behind the Scenes Tour - Centre staff take you to off-access areas to participate in a range of activities, such as feeding and walking the elephants, watching their positive-reinforcement food-reward based training methods, tiger feeding (not in their cage!), and access to the nursery to feed and play with a troupe of energetic baby monkeys! The tour is $150 with 100% of profits going to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Cambodia's wildlife. Book via the website link below. Email: WildlifeToursPT@wildlifealliance.org Tel: +855 95970175 Website: www.wildlifealliance.org/wildlife-tours Free the Bears - An NGO that cares for the sun bears and moon bears once they arrive at the park, they have a 'keeper-for-a-day' program that allows access into the private areas for the bears. There are also activities such as making enrichment toys and preparing food for the bears, there is no hands-on contact with the bears. Prices depend on the number of people: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 4+ people, US$70 / 130 / 180 / 220 / 50 each respectively To arrange contact Pesei at least 24 hours before at the details below or via their website: Email: peseibear@yahoo.com Tel: +855 12354769 Website: www.freethebears.org Betelnut Jeep Tours - A private tour company that takes guests around the centre. Although they do not have access to the private areas, they have over ten years experience at the park and know the stories and personalities of the animals. Tours are US$30 and leave from Lazy Gecko Cafe at 10:00am returning at between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Email: betelnuttours@gmail.com Website: http://www.betelnuttours.com Address: Lazy Gecko Cafe & Guesthouse, #1d, street 258, Phnom Penh Open: Mon-Sat, 9:00am - 5:00pm. Address: About 40km from Phnom Penh, National Road No 2, Tro Pang Sap Village, Tro Pang Sap Commune, Ba Ti District, Takeo Province.