The Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium complex about 30km southeast of Siem Reap town with total investment of more than $70 million is set to open on November 1, which tourism players hope will bring in more visitors to the historically-rich northwestern Cambodian region, for longer stays.

The park is located on a 100ha plot along National Road 6 in Kbon village, Khchas commune, Sotr Nikum district, Siem Reap province about 7km northwest of Damdek village, where the road intersects National Road 64. Breaking ground on April 29, 2019, construction on the first of three phases was completed just this month.

Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium Co Ltd said in a statement that the attraction features aquariums with volumes of more than 10,000 cubic metres housing domestic and imported freshwater and saltwater fish species, as well as a variety of wildlife enclosures for South African tigers, bears, otters, royal turtles and crocodiles.

The company’s director Meng Hieng previously mentioned that the park would have fish from the Amazon River, Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sondaica), sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus), Javan mongooses (Urva javanica), Malayan porcupines (Hystrix brachyura), reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) and Oriental whip snakes (Ahaetulla prasina).

And following a visit in mid-September, Tieng Eng, the wife of Siem Reap provincial governor Tea Seiha, wrote on social media that the establishment has Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) weighing more than 100kg and other “large, uniquely shaped” freshwater fish found in Southeast Asia’s longest river.

The statement said the establishment will also comprise a floating market, food and beverage venues, and shops selling souvenirs and other goods.

The complex will be an exciting, unique day-trip option for national and international travellers to Angkor Archaeological Park “that we’ve all dreamed of seeing”, offering entertainment with a side of education, it added.https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/angkor-wildlife-aquarium-park-opens-nov-1