Putting
Cambodia and Laos on the Map
Cambodia and Laos stretch through the centre of the
Indochinese peninsula, with Laos lying to the north of Cambodia. Both countries
share borders with Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east, while Laos
also borders China and Myanmar. Cambodia covers an area of 69,900 sq miles (181,035
sq km), and has a population of about 15 million. Laos, although larger, with
an area of about 90,700 sq miles (235,000 sq km), supports a smaller population
of just under six million. The only maritime access to these two countries is through
Cambodia’s 277-mile (443-km) coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. This makes
them highly dependent for transport, irrigation, and food on a network of
rivers, notably the Mekong. It enters Laos at its north-western corner and
exits Cambodia in the south, en route to the South China Sea.
Landscape and Wildlife
With some of the best-preserved rain forests in Asia,
Cambodia and Laos are home to rich biological diversity. Laos’s mountainous and
rugged landscape is typified by soaring outcrops of karst limestone, fecund
river valleys, and emerald-green paddy fields. Much of central Cambodia is
flat, with the terrain defined by the fer tile influence of the Tonlé Sap and
Mekong rivers. The abundant
wildlife in the region includes a number of endangered animals
such as the Asian elephant and the tiger. New species such as the antelope-like
saola and the kha nyou are also found here. The region’s rain forests, however,
are being steadily depleted by illegal and state-sanctioned logging.
RAIN FOREST PRESERVES
Covering thousands of square miles, the rain forests of
the two countries include outstanding national parks such as Nam Ha in Laos and Botum Sakor in Cambodia.
These largely inaccessible forests harbor a stunning
array of wildlife, including various species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
The clouded leopard is known to inhabit the rain forests
of Asia. One of the most agile cats, it is a superb tree climber.
The Siamese crocodile is a freshwater reptile typically found
around rivers in rain forests. It is critically endangered in the wild.
The Malayan porcupine is a common resident of Asian rain
forests. A nocturnal species, it is one of the largest rodents in the region.
MEKONG RIVER
Forming an entire border between Laos and Cambodia, the
2,710-mile (4,361-km) long Mekong is the world’s 12th longest river. It is home
to a variety of big fish, including the giant Mekong stingray, measuring up to
14 ft (4 m) across, and the world’s largest catfish.
Irrawaddy dolphins number less than 100 in the wild. They
live in brackish waters near coasts, and river mouths, as well as estuaries.
Frangipani trees, cultivated in tropical and subtropical
countries, have evergreen leaves and a strong perfume.
The dugong, also known as the sea cow, is a marine mammal
that is found off the coast of Cambodia.
TONLE SAP
A combined lake and river system, the Tonlé Sap is not
only Cambodia’s most intriguing natural feature and its greatest natural
resource, it is also the largest lake in Southeast Asia. This floodplain, with
its rich biodiversity, is a perfect habitat for water birds, aquatic animals,
and fish.
The black-headed ibis often feeds on the banks of the
Tonlé Sap. This exotic wader’s existence is now under threat due to drainage and
loss of habitat.
Grey-headed fish eagles are mostly found in the north-western
part of the lake – the largest gathering of this bird in Asia. Despite its
name, the fish eagle mainly feeds on water snakes.
Fishing cats are common in the lake and depend on its
wetlands for prey. They mainly eat freshwater fish, but also catch rats and
birds.
MANGROVE FOREST
The region’s mangrove wetlands are vital in protecting
its coastline. A nursery for juvenile fish, the mangroves are home to marine organisms,
as well as birds. The Peam Krasaop Nature Reserve in Southern Cambodia has some
of the best mangroves in the country. Storks, especially the milky
stork and lesser adjutant, are quite rare, but still found in Cambodia’s
mangrove forests.
The loris is found in tropical habitats in Southeast Asia.
It is poached for Chinese traditional medicine
and the pet trade.
Crab-eating macaques are wide-spread in the region. Known
at times as the “crop raider,” their main diet consists of fruit and seeds.
COASTAL FOREST
Many of Cambodia’s most important forest preserves lie
along its coastline. These preserves, which include the Botum Sakor and Ream
National Park, are home to a wide variety of animals, reptiles, and marine
organisms, including pileated gibbons, pythons, king cobras, and dugongs.
The blue-eared kingfisher, one of the ten different
species of kingfishers found in Cambodia, lives in coastal forests and hunts for
small fish and insects.
The hawksbill turtle is common around the coast of
Cambodia. It has a distinctive beaked mouth
and a beautifully patterned shell.
Bantengs were probably the ancestors of domestic cattle. Large
and graceful, they live in herds and prefer open, dry, deciduous forests.
