Cambodia's Tigers: Return or Risk?

Conservationists are working on a plan to reintroduce tigers to Cambodia, with India expected to supply the big cats for the Cardamom Mountains. This ambitious project, initially slated for a 2024 start but now proposed for next year, aims to restore an apex predator and highlight conservation efforts. The initiative seeks to benefit Cambodia's landscapes and potentially tourism.

However, the plan faces considerable opposition and concern. Local resident Pan Sok recalls a tiger attack decades ago and is unhappy about the reintroduction. Experts question if Cambodia's forests have enough prey to sustain tigers, a concern exacerbated by ongoing deforestation and poaching. The project's estimated cost of nearly $43 million until 2030 is also a point of contention for local residents who were not initially consulted.