Nine Cambodian Forest Rangers Hospitalized After Eating Poisonous Wild Mushrooms During Patrol
Nine Cambodian forest rangers were hospitalized after consuming poisonous wild mushrooms during a patrol in Kratie province's Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, though all have recovered or are recovering without life-threatening complications.
Cambodia's Ministry of Environment confirmed that nine forest rangers were poisoned after eating wild mushrooms during a patrol in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Kratie province on Wednesday. All officers were immediately transported to local hospitals for emergency care. According to the ministry spokesperson, all nine rangers are now out of life-threatening danger, with eight having fully recovered and been discharged, while one remains hospitalized at Kratie Provincial Hospital for continued recovery. The ministry emphasized that forest rangers regularly face numerous hazards including natural dangers, confrontations with criminal groups, and various diseases while performing their duties to expand forest areas, enforce conservation laws, and protect natural resources. Currently, more than 1,000 park rangers patrol and combat forestry and wildlife crimes across 73 protected natural areas throughout Cambodia, covering an area of over 7 million hectares. During the first four months of 2026, from January to April, these rangers conducted 4,048 patrols and successfully cracked down on 718 natural resource crime cases.
