Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, Phnom Penh Overview

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center(PTWRC) is a wildlife centre located to the south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is the largest zoo in the country consisting of over 1200 animals of more than 100 species and is among the top attractions. More than 2 million tourists visit Phnom Tamao every year. If you want to experience Cambodian wildlife in their natural habitats, this is a highly recommended attraction to visit while traveling in Phnom Penh.

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Best time to visit

The best time to visit Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is from October to December when the wildlife can be spotted. Visit during early morning or late afternoon for relatively pleasant weather.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center Tours

Tourists get a chance to get up close and interact with the rescued animals at the wildlife centre. You can also take part in feeding and bathing in guided tours that come at an additional fee. There are sighting tours twice a day where you would be going on tours with guides to spot the wildlife. The NGO Free the Bear also offers Bear Care Tour to the visitors, where they can lead the team for a day in taking care of the operations.

You can also book guided day trips from Phnom Penh, which will include transport and snacks. These trips can be booked via tour operators or through guesthouses and travel agents or online.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center History & Significance

The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center was founded in 1995. Spread over an area of over 6,000 acres of preserved regenerating forest, the primary objective of this establishment is to save, rehabilitate and breed all species of endangered wildlife. The institute has been run by the government institution of Cambodian Forestry Administration in partnership Wildlife Alliance and Free the Bears NGOs. These authorities have combinedly rescued more than thousands of animals from various zoos and refugee shelters for rehabilitation. The Wildlife Alliance also conducts periodic patrols and counting of the species of wildlife to monitor the conditions.

In the centre, members of Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team, a team created by Wildlife Alliance and the Forestry Administration consisting of veterinarians take care of animals and operations, where rescued animals from various places are rehabilitated for weeks of treatment and released into the wild once they get recovered.

The wildlife rescue centre is currently home to over 1,200 rescued animals including species of bears, Asian elephants, tigers, Pileated gibbon, Siamese, macaques, deer, crocodiles, leopards, and otters.

How To Reach Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center

The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is located 40 km from the downtown of Phnom Penh and takes about 1.5 hours to reach. The best way to get there is by renting a cab for about 30 USD for a round trip, including a waiting period that can be shared. Or you can get there by hiring a motorbike for about 8 USD per day although it would take a longer time to reach due to poor road conditions.