A proposed border crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam may drive many endangered species closer to extinction.

The Southeast Asian countries already have a number of road border crossings, and a new one is expected to be built via Cambodia's Mondulkiri Protected Forest, which is home to many distinctive animal and plant species.

Activist groups, including the World Wide Fund (WWF), are attempting to stop the border crossing project via Mondulkiri Protected Forest in a bid to protect many endangered animal species. WWF reveals that the region has 23 species of trees, mammals, reptiles and birds appearing on the Endangered or Critically Endangered list.

The Cambodian government has also recognized the region for the reintroduction of tigers in the future. Sam Ath Chhith, the Country Director of WWF-Cambodia, suggests that the biodiversity of the region and future plans of tiger reintroduction will be put in jeopardy if the proposed border crossing is built.

WWF officials believe that keeping the landscape unfragmented and intact as possible is the key to reintroduce tigers in Mondulkiri.

WWF suggests that many endangered species in Mondulkiri have already vanished from other parts of Southeast Asia because of poaching and habitat loss. The proposed border crossing would limit the natural habitat of species just for economic benefits.

Carlos Drews, the Global Species Program Director of WWF, says that improved infrastructure is very important to nations. However, it is critical to evaluate projects as poorly-planned border crossing may have adverse effects on the wildlife as well as the people of the region.

"Along with sheltering so many threatened species, these forests support the livelihoods of local communities as well as providing ecosystem services, such as clean water and air, for people across Cambodia," says Drews.

WWF reveals that banteng, a wild cattle species, is one of the most endangered species in Mondulkiri. In the last 50 years, the banteng population has declined by over 80 percent. Just over 5,000 banteng are now believed to be living in the region. Small populations of banteng are also found in Borneo and Java.

The Siamese crocodile, slender-billed vulture and the elongated tortoise are a few other endangered species living in Mondulkiri. Moreover, the national bird of Cambodia, the giant ibis, which lives in the region, is also an endangered species. 

Photo: Joan Carles Torres | Flickr