The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity

(May 2026) The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), located in Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Reap Province, rescues and rehabilitates wildlife confiscated from illegal trade. It employs over 40 Cambodian staff and manages one of the largest ex-situ populations of Critically Endangered elongated tortoises in the world. The centre operates within the park under formal agreement with Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment, and works with international conservation partners including the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
ACCB’s ongoing work includes long-term captive breeding of elongated tortoises, structured release programmes at Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary, and post-release ecological monitoring. Local community members are employed as “Tortoise Guardians” as part of this work.
WCF granted USD 1637.50 to support two release programmes in 2026 and in 2027. The funding covers GPS and VHF tracking units to monitor released tortoises after release, collecting data on their dispersal, survival, and habitat use, along with the practical costs of release itself, including staff time, veterinary oversight, a temporary acclimatisation enclosure, and supplies during the 12-week acclimatisation period.