Cambodia to create wildlife sanctuary in Takeo

Phnom Penh, Sept. 18 (Xinhua): The Cambodian Council of Ministers has approved a sub-decree to establish a protected area of around 8,000 hectares of wetlands in Takeo province for endangered cranes and other wildlife, local media said on Monday.

The sanctuary, which will be created around the Prek Lpov Lake in Borei Cholsar and Koh Andaet districts, aims to preserve cranes, other bird species, aquatic animals and plants that are critically endangered, said Cambodian-language newspaper the Kampuchea Thmey.

The sanctuary will be divided into a "core zone," to which access is highly restricted, and a "buffer zone," said Agriculture Secretary of State Chan Tong Yves, reported English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily.

However, Yves said that he did not know when the approved sanctuary will be established.