Former poachers protect rare water birds
A wildlife conservation scheme in Cambodia staffed by poachers-turned-gamekeepers has led to a dramatic recovery of the endangered bird population on Tonle Sap lake. Seven species of water birds - the spot-billed pelican, milky stork, painted stork, lesser adjutant, greater adjutant, black-headed ibis and Oriental darter - increased up to 20-fold at Prek Toal at the edge of the lake, the region's largest freshwater reservoir which holds the largest - in some cases only - breeding populations of the large water birds.