History of Veal Ta Prak or Veal Prak, Chi Phat Eco Tourism site, Tmar Bang district, Koh Kong province

(Written by Ty Theavy, edited www.ecoadventurecambodia.com)

“Veal Ta Prak” or the Silver Field: Veal Ta Prak is a grassy field in the middle of the Jungle with a seasonal pond where wildlife such as Sambar deer and wild pigs can be seen. Great hornbills are common and you can be sure to hear Pileated Gibbons calling throughout the forest. The field is named Veal Ta Prak (Silver Field) after a minority tribal man who lived in the Cardamoms some 300 – 400 years ago who was told in his dream to dig for the silver treasure and jewelry buried in the field. Oral histories report that the minorities were either killed or taken prisoners to become slaves in Thailand during the Khmer-Thai wars.  From 1979 to 1996, the Khmer Rouge rebels used this place as a Cassava plantation and rice paddy field to support their anti-government activities.

This is the original script:

Veal Brak (Silver Field)

This field is about 1 square Kilometer. It is called the silver field because an old man was told in his dream to dig for the silver treasure and jewelry here. Only one kind of tree grows here, they are called Smarch Trees. This field is only 13 Kilometers away and it takes the trekkers 4 hours from Chi Phat. From1979 to 1996, the Khmer Rouge Rebels used this place as a Cassava plantation and rice paddy field to support their daily anti-Vietnamese activity. We can see many wildlife species here such as wild pigs, Sambar, Slow Loris, Pig- tailed Macaque, Silvered Langer, bears and other species.