6 October 2012
IT was the zoo from hell, a contender for the world's worst. The tigers were fed rice and an elephant became so emaciated it could squeeze between the bars of its cage.
But now, because a Sydney expatriate couple living in Cambodia and their supporters decided to do something about it, the 134 animals of the Teuk Chhou Zoo are beginning to thrive.
Rory and Melita Hunter, who operate Cambodia's first island resort, learned about the zoo's horrific conditions in a local Phnom Penh newspaper last year.
The list of horrors was long. Street dogs would enter holes in the cages and kill animals or steal their food. Animals were kept in pairs, so they were forced to compete for the meagre food offerings. The weaker animal starved.
Eagles were in cages so small they could not stretch their wings. Many cages were open to the elements, exposing animals to harsh tropical sun or torrential rain. The staff was a handful of locals overwhelmed by the demands of 43 different species.
"It was such a heart-wrenching story," Rory said yesterday. "Mel and I decided that we were in a unique position to try to do something."
That "unique position" was the fact their island resort, with its emphasis on the environment and local involvement, had generated global interest in the beauty of Cambodia. The Cambodian government was thankful the nation's tourism appeal could go beyond the traditional visit to the famed temples of Angkor Wat.
In July last year the Hunters signed a management agreement with the zoo's owner, His Excellency Nhim Vanda, a four-star general and senior member of the Cambodia government, who had been overwhelmed by the costs and complexities of running a zoo.
They dipped into their savings to bring food to the animals and repair the enclosures, spending up to $8000 a month.
Dr Wayne McCallum, a Kiwi who works at the Hunters' Song Saa Private Island as director of sustainability, was just as determined. He organised a former colleague, Nick Marx from aid group Wildlife Alliance, to join a team to transform the zoo.
Last week Nhim Vanda signed an agreement handing management control and authority for the zoo and its animals, including the land, to an organisation the Hunters and Dr McCallum have set up called Footprints.
"It was a long and challenging process as we needed to build up a lot of trust," Rory, originally from the Blue Mountains, said.
Dr McCallum, now director of Footprints, said finding the funds to support Teuk Chhou was still a problem.
"There have been long hours and difficult decisions spent alongside sick animals, trying to work out how to pay for a particular treatment," he said.
"However, there are now fewer sleepless nights."
Melita Hunter is originally from Paddington and Teuk Chhou's management and promotions adviser, Monique Counihan, is another NSW connection - she used to work at Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo.
The Hunters and Dr McCallum want Teuk Chhou to show Cambodians their nation's stunning wildlife.
"More than anything, what has captured our hearts are the number and beauty of these animals who are native to Cambodia," Rory said.
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