India to Send 6 Royal Bengal Tigers to Cambodia After Monsoon as Part of Wildlife Reintroduction Effort
In a significant step toward global wildlife conservation, India is preparing to send six Royal Bengal tigers—two males and four females—to Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park after the 2025 monsoon season. The move is part of a bilateral effort to reintroduce the big cats to a region where they were declared extinct nearly two decades ago.
The initiative is being led by India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in close coordination with the Cambodian government. Tigers have been extinct in Cambodia since 2007.
A senior NTCA official said, “With recent studies confirming a suitable prey base, we’re confident the tigers can now thrive in Cardamom National Park. This marks a historic moment for tiger conservation beyond India’s borders.”
Cambodian Park Ready for Tigers After 4 Years of Preparation
India has been aiding Cambodia for over four years in preparing the Southern Cardamom National Park (CNP) to welcome the apex predator. Both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2023 to facilitate the translocation of the species.
The latest report by the US-based Global Conservation Organisation confirms that the prey density within the park is now sufficient to support at least four tigers. This includes 1,170 recorded ungulates—mainly wild boars, Indian Muntjacs, lesser mousedeer, and mainland serows.
Final Action Plan Under Review
Cambodia is finalizing a detailed action plan, which will be evaluated by NTCA and WII before the monsoon. This evaluation will help determine India’s continued involvement and support strategy, including anti-poaching operations, community engagement programs, and regular monitoring by Indian conservation experts.
The reintroduction will be the first of its kind involving cross-border tiger relocation in Southeast Asia and is expected to serve as a model for other countries facing local extinction of apex predators.
With preparations reaching their final phase, the rewilding project symbolizes a powerful partnership between nations to restore lost biodiversity and strengthen global conservation leadership.
