Shimla - A highly-endangered Himalayan bird species has successfully hatched three chicks in captivity at a sanctuary in the hills of northern India, local wildlife officials said on Tuesday.

The Western Tragopan, an increasingly rare spotted pheasant with bright plumage on its head and breast, is found in the cooler climes of northern Pakistan and India, where it is known as Jajaurana - King of Birds.

"It has bred in captivity for the second time at the Sarahan Pheasantry," said Arum Sharma, a wildlife official in charge of pheasants in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in the western reaches of the Himalayas.

On the previous occasion, the chicks died soon after hatching, but wildlife officials are keeping their fingers crossed and visitors away.

"The utmost care is being taken for the upkeep of the birds and nobody is allowed to visit the sanctuary," said Sharma.

"Even the caretakers are keeping a safe distance so the birds are not disturbed."

Caretakers are also hoping more eggs will hatch over the next few days.

According to the Red Data Book of threatened birds of Asia, there are less than 5 000 of the pheasants in the wild and only a handful in captivity.

The data book, started by the Wild Bird Society of Japan in 1994, said the pheasant faced continuing forest loss and environmental degradation throughout its restricted range in the Himalayas.

The project to breed the Western Tragopan in captivity at the Sarahan Pheasantry, 180 kilometres from state capital Shimla, was started with the help of British pheasant expert John Corder about four years ago.


IOL: Rare Himalayan birds bred in captivity

Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) Status: Critically endangered

Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), also called Western Horned Pheasant, is a local resident in western Himalayas.

Size: male 68-72 cm; female 60 cm. Weight: male 1.80-2.20 kg; female 1.20-1.40 kg.

Identification: Typical tragopan, with orange to red collar, red facial skin and white-spotted, black belly. Similar species: Confusion could arise with Satyr Tragopan (T. satyra) in south-east of range, although recent surveys suggest that the two species are not in fact sympatric1. Male differs from that species primarily by red facial skin and mostly black base-colour of lower breast to vent, female has a noticeably duller and greyer base-colour to upperparts and, in particular, underparts.

Distribution: The Western Tragopan is endemic to the western Himalayas, occurring from Kohistan, east through Kashmir into Himachal Pradesh and possibly Uttaranchal, north-west India. In summer it inhabits temperate coniferous and deciduous forests, with dense undergrowth, from 2,400 to 3,600 m. In winter, the Western Tragopan descends to grassy or shrubby gulleys with less snow cover, between 1,300 m and 2,500 m. At present the population is estimated to be not more than 5000. An attempt is being made to breed them in captivity at Sarahan pheasantry (Himachal Pradesh).

Call: a loud 'way waah', during breeding season. Wailing cry 'waa waa waa', when agitated, repeated a number of times.

Food: Mostly vegetarian. Feeds on fresh leaves, bamboo shoots, acorns, berries, seeds and insects.

what an absolutely stunning bird!!! Hooray