There are an estimated 1,129 individual yellow-cheeked gibbons in the 700-hectare Jahoo eco-tourism site. - Jahoo
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is home to the largest remaining population of yellow-cheeked gibbons on the planet, with a stable population dwelling in the protected treetops of Mondulkiri province’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.
The “Jahoo” eco-tourism site, covering 700 hectares and established mainly for the gibbons, offers guests a better than 90 per cent chance to see (and hear!) the rare monkeys in their natural habitat, as well as experience the way that the indigenous Bunong community lives in harmony with their surroundings.
The site was established in 2013, through funding from the Keo Seima REDD+ Project, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and other partners — with support from the Ministry of Environment and SVC Stay. They began welcoming guests the following year.
Jahoo finance and administration officer Neth Boromey spoke to journalists during an Oct 24 visit, organised by the environment ministry. She explained that a total of 2,754 tourists have visited so far — most of them foreigners, including several diplomats.
The money generated by the visits holds significant value and meaning for wildlife conservation, natural resources and the indigenous community, she noted.
Boromey said that more than $10,000 was contributed to the Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Environment to support conservation of the Keo Seima sanctuary. Nearly US$60,000 has been provided to the local community for development projects, and the initiative has also created jobs for 28 community members, including 11 women.
“When tourists come here, it’s not just about seeing wildlife and forests — their visit directly helps the Andoung Kraloeng community. Each tourist contributes a $30 conservation fee, and another $5 goes to the environment department,” she said.
“I always tell visitors that their presence here doesn’t just bring enjoyment, but also supports community development and wildlife protection,” she added.
Beyond observing wildlife, visitors also learn about local traditions, culture and the daily lives of the indigenous Bunong people living in the area.
Sok Pahnavuth, Jahoo’s research coordinator, noted that most visitors come specifically to see the yellow-cheeked gibbon, as Jahoo offers a 90 per cent chance of sighting them. He added that this gibbon species exists only in Cambodia, Vietnam, and a small part of Laos.
“The easiest and most reliable place to see yellow-cheeked gibbons is here at Jahoo. Tourists from all over the world — Europe, America, and elsewhere — travel here to see them and hear their distinctive early morning calls,” he said.
“Their signings are truly special — some visitors come just to hear them, and they’re deeply moved. The gibbons are our main attraction, though some visitors are also drawn to other rare species like the endangered black-shanked douc,” he continued.
The visits to see the gibbons are carefully managed, so the rare monkeys are not disturbed.
According to studies, five gibbon groups inhabit the Jahoo area. Two of the groups are already habituated to humans and can be safely visited, while three others are still being habituated. WCS Cambodia reports that the local population of yellow-cheeked gibbons is stable, at around 1,129 individuals.
The journalists’ three-day field visit to Keo Seima (Oct 24–26) aimed to highlight the achievements of the Keo Seima REDD+ project in promoting sustainable community development, raising awareness of the role of indigenous Bunong communities in protecting natural resources and encouraging greater participation from local and national stakeholders in maintaining a clean, green environment.
Khvay Atitya, undersecretary of state at the ministry, who led the delegation, said the trip also aimed to appreciate the cleanliness and greenery of Mondulkiri’s local communities.
“When we talk about ‘cleanliness’, it includes both environmental cleanliness — proper waste management and sanitation — and our hospitality: the warm welcome and sincerity with which local people offer greetings from the heart. As for ‘greenness’, it refers to the community’s efforts to contribute to Cambodia’s green initiatives,” he explained.
“At Jahoo, we’ve seen how local participation aligns perfectly with the objectives of our visit. Indigenous Bunong people now have job options beyond forest protection — they earn extra income through eco-tourism while helping conserve nature,” he added.
He emphasised that forest conservation and community livelihood improvements go hand in hand, reducing pressure on forest resources by creating alternative sources of income.
The Keo Seima REDD+ project, launched in 2010, currently operates across 166,983 hectares of the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary’s total 300,000 hectares in Mondulkiri and Kratie provinces.
It was the first of Cambodia’s REDD+ project to receive funding from international carbon credit sales, with proceeds used for biodiversity protection and community development. The project is owned by the ministry and implemented by WCS Cambodia.
Keo Seima is home to over 1,000 species, including rare and endangered animals such as black-shanked douc langurs, Asian elephants and green peafowl, as well as many species listed as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN Red List, including the yellow-cheeked gibbon and pileated gibbon. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
