Posted on July, 27 2016

Phnom Penh– 26 July 2016 – WWF-Cambodia is deeply shocked and sad about the death of Mr. Le Sokleng, a chief river guard of the Fisheries Administration at the Koh Narong outpost in Kratie province, who died Sunday night in a storm on the Mekong river, near Sandan village, about 10 kilometers away from Kampi pool. His body was found this morning after a day of searching for him. The brave ranger was only 32 years old and leaves behind his wife and two children.
 
“We express our deepest condolences to his family. He was a hero, fighting for the sake of the river dolphins and for Cambodia’s natural treasures,” said Chhit Sam Ath, Country Director of WWF-Cambodia. Moreover, two of his colleagues, that were on the same boat, got seriously injured. The entire WWF-Cambodia wishes them to get better soon. WWF-Cambodia is closely working together with the Fisheries Administration and strongly supports the rangers along the Mekong.
 
There was a storm in Sunday night while the river guards were crossing the river, coming back from patrolling activities just before midnight. A strong wind caused the boat to capsize and sink and Mr. Le Sokleng drowned. He was wearing rain gear. Two boats capsized, the others tried to rescue Mr. Soklang, but it was too late and several people were in the water as well.
 
There are 67 river guards in 16 outposts working in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces. WWF-Cambodia is supporting the river guards with per diems, equipment and other support. The guards protect the dolphins between Kratie and the Lao PDR border and have removed many harmful gill nets. They are the most important guarantee for law enforcement in the region against illegal fishing and overfishing in core zones and buffer zones. “The river guards do an extremely great job and without them we could not protect the Cambodian Mekong dolphins. Our team will never forget Mr. Le Sokleng and his precious work,” said Chhit Sam Ath.