A Leopard pelt seized by authorities in Cambodia during an operation against illegal wildlife trafficking © Wildlife Alliance   8 February 2010—Authorities in Cambodia, with assistance from CAWT Partner Wildlife Alliance, have arrested a man on suspicion of attempting to sell a Leopard skin and other parts of threatened wildlife species.

In December 2009, Nick Mark of Wildlife Alliance accompanied members of Cambodia’s Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) to Siem Reap where, posing as a tourist with Military Policeman Kong Samroul as his guide, he ventured up steps of the temple adjoining Phnom Kulen National Park while the rest of the team waited a short distance away as to avoid arousing suspicion.

Marx ventured over to inspect a genuine Leopard skin being offered by a trader for USD500 and strike up a conversation with him while Officer Samroul made the necessary phone calls for apprehension and kept the trader and skin under observation.

While Marx went off to explore the temple, two plain clothes WRRD officers confiscated the Leopard pelt and arrested the trader. He was taken to the Ministry of Environment Police Office where he is now awaiting trial.

The case is a rare example with direct evidence of illegal trading of wildlife products. In addition to the Leopard skin, the trader was also offering a bear skin, the bones, skull, horns and skin of a Southern Serow, muntjac antlers, and other assorted wildlife paraphernalia. The same individual had twice eluded capture for attempting to sell the Leopard pelt.