With programs to rescue and breed endangered wildlife, the nonprofit Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB has a mission to educate the local community and visitors alike. Knowledgeable staff share information about wildlife conservation and tend to rescue animals living in well-tended enclosures.
Visiting the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity is a must for wildlife lovers, who can learn more about the center’s work on guided tours that are offered from Monday through Saturday. Tours offer the chance to see rescued animals that are being cared for on site; while the animals change as individuals are returned to the wild, they usually include birds, monkeys, and other native species.
The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity is located on National Road 67, 26 miles (42 km) north of Siem Reap and 7.5 miles (12 km) north of Banteay Srei. Tuk-tuks and taxis regularly make the trip from Siem Reap; while hiring a tuk-tuk is cheaper, the drive is more comfortable in an enclosed taxi. When finding a driver, be sure to negotiate how much time you’d like at each stop and whether you want to visit Banteay Srei as well.
Tours of the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity are offered at 9am and 1pm from Monday through Sunday. Since late arrivals are not allowed to join the tour, it’s essential to arrive a bit before the tour departure. By pre-arranging a visit for your group of five or more people, it’s possible to visit the ACCB outside of regular visiting hours. Donations are requested for tours.
Visiting the ACCB is a fascinating glimpse of Cambodia’s rich biodiversity, but you can even spot native wildlife within the Angkor Temples themselves. Recent conservation efforts have reintroduced endangered pileated gibbons—small primates with pale fur and black faces—to the Angkor Temple Complex. Listen for their distinctive hooting from the trees surrounding the archeological site.
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