Leptoptilos dubius - The greater adjutant once roamed throughout Asia, but is now limited to Cambodia and India. The adjutant has a distinctive pouch hanging from its throat. This pouch is not used for storing food; it is not connected to the digestive tract. The neck pouch can be inflated and used during courtship displays. The greater adjutant is monogamous for each breeding season, but does not pair for life. Both parents share in the task of building the nest and feeding the hatchlings.
- - - - -
Jayavarman II, the founder of the Khmer Kingdom, reigned from 802 to 850. The kingdom existed for over 600 years and was the most powerful state in the region, exerting its influence throughout Southeast Asia. The Khmer Kingdom eventually succumbed to the Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Cambodia was then divided and ruled as a vassal state by its neighbors. In 1863, Cambodia fell to French colonial rule lasting for almost 100 years. Cambodia became independent in 1953.
