Protecting What Matters

The Story of Jahoo

Deep in the forests of Cambodia's Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, conservation is connected to the lives of the people who call this landscape home.

This is Jahoo, a community-based ecotourism project where protecting wildlife goes hand in hand with supporting the Indigenous Bunong community.

Many visitors come to Jahoo hoping to see the endangered Southern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons. But there is a bigger story behind the experience, one that connects wildlife research, local knowledge, community livelihoods and forest conservation.

A Forest Worth Protecting

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is home to an important range of wildlife, including the endangered Southern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon.

Understanding and protecting these animals requires more than simply knowing where they live. It means learning about their behaviour, the forests they depend on and the wider ecosystem around them.

At Jahoo, ecotourism helps support research and conservation activities. Scientists and members of the Bunong community work to deepen their understanding of gibbons and the forest they inhabit.

Through research and continued observation, this work contributes to a better understanding of the species and the importance of protecting its habitat.

Conservation Starts with the Community

The forest has a deep connection with the Indigenous Bunong people, whose knowledge and relationship with the land have been passed down through generations.

At Jahoo, the community is not simply part of the visitor experience. Bunong people are actively involved in guiding, conservation and the work that takes place around the forest.

Ecotourism also creates opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, allowing community members to benefit from protecting the natural environment.

This connection matters. When local people have opportunities and a meaningful role in conservation, they can continue to take part in protecting the landscape and the wildlife that depends on it.

The Gibbon Fund: Supporting the Community

One important part of Jahoo's community approach is the Gibbon Fund.

This community-managed fund supports local initiatives, including education, training and assistance for vulnerable members of the community.

It also helps strengthen the community's role in conservation by supporting local actions to protect the forest, wildlife and Bunong cultural heritage.

Through this approach, tourism creates benefits that extend beyond the individual visitor experience.

Your Visit Has a Bigger Purpose

A visit to Jahoo is an opportunity to explore Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, learn about gibbons and spend time with local Bunong guides.

But it also connects visitors to a wider conservation effort.

By choosing a responsible tourism experience, visitors help support a model where wildlife protection and community well-being are closely linked.

Jahoo shows how ecotourism can contribute to protecting endangered species while creating opportunities for the people who live alongside them.

There is much more to Jahoo than what you see during a forest walk. Behind every experience is a connection between wildlife, research and the community.

Watch the full video to discover how Jahoo brings these elements together and why supporting the people who protect the forest is just as important as protecting the wildlife itself.

Your journey with Jahoo is more than a wildlife experience. It is an opportunity to become part of a wider effort to protect Cambodia's forests, wildlife and cultural heritage.