In December 2024, Wild Earth Allies lost a dear colleague. Srey Ben, an elder and respected member of the Indigenous Kuy community, was one of our Community Field Leads in Cambodia. As a conservation leader, he dedicated his work to protecting wildlife, restoring ecosystems, and inspiring the next generation of conservationists. We are committed to ensuring Srey Ben’s legacy will live on through our work in Prey Lang Forest.
Srey Ben examines a surveillance camera trap at a mineral lick in Prey Lang.
The Kuy people, original inhabitants of the area, rely on the forest for their livelihoods and have long recognized the importance of protecting Cambodia’s biodiversity. Srey Ben shared this understanding and played a central role in our conservation efforts.
Together with Kuy communities, Wild Earth Allies launched an initiative to assess, protect, and restore Cambodia’s threatened trees and key wildlife habitats. Srey Ben led groups throughout Prey Lang to identify and document tree species. His wildlife and botanical expertise advanced our efforts to protect habitats for Asian elephants, pileated gibbons, and many other species.
For Srey Ben, his role as a field lead was about more than protecting biodiversity. He recognized the importance of Prey Lang to Indigenous people, saying, “If Prey Lang exists, then our community exists.” As a mentor, he shared his knowledge with other community members and upcoming field guides, many of whom now lead their own survey teams in Prey Lang.
Srey Ben, Tuy Sereivathana (Vathana), and Neang Thy, our Cambodia Conservation Manager, in Prey Lang
Tuy Sereivathana (Vathana), our Cambodia Program Director, worked alongside Srey Ben for over 25 years. He reflected, “Srey Ben was integral in bringing local and Indigenous Kuy knowledge to the conservation of Prey Lang and strengthening sustainable livelihoods throughout his community. He will be dearly missed by me, the Wild Earth Allies team, and, of course, his family, children, and local community.”
While we mourn the passing of our colleague, we also celebrate his life, his passion for conservation, and the lasting impact he has made on people and nature.
