Conservation Breeding and Reintroduction of Cheer Pheasant In Himachal Pradesh

摘要

Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) is a red-listed Vulnerable pheasant (Bird Life International 2017). It is one of the western Himalayan endemic pheasant occurring in Himachal Pradesh. Cheer Pheasants are medium-sized (male: 1250-1800g; female: 900-1360g) montane pheasants with a low degree of sexual dimorphism as compared to other Himalayan pheasant species. They are resident in steep hillsides with tall grasses, shrubs, scattered trees and rocks (Johnsgard, 1986), and distributed across a wide altitudinal range in the Himalayas between 1400-3050m (Garson et al., 1992). They are known to be predominantly herbivorous with the major food items including leaves, roots, tubers, seeds and berries (Beebe, 1918; AN and Ripley, 1968; Sheppard et al., 1998). A strong seasonality is associated with the food items consumed by the birds. During the breeding season, males and females form pair bonds, establish territories (ranging between 15-40ha), nest and share parental care (Garson et al., 1992). The breeding season extends from April to June. The clutch size range between 9-12 eggs (Johnsgard, 1986). They are ground-nesters, often selecting inaccessible and covered areas for nesting (Baker 1932). Incubation, which is carried out entirely by the female, lasts for around 26 days, with the male remaining in her proximity. Following hatching, the male joins the hen in brood rearing (Baker, 1932). Outside the breeding season, they are gregarious often found in flocks ranging between 5-15 birds (Johnsgard, 1986). Cheer Pheasant is crepuscular in habit, with foraging concentrated in early morning and late afternoon. The birds retreat to roost during the afternoon and late evenings in stunted trees, high bushes or on rock summits which are characteristic of their habitat.Bird Life International 2017 estimates the global population to range between 2000-2700 mature individuals. The major threats to wild populations are fragmentation, deterioration in habitat quality due to fire, developmental projects, grazing, hunting and urbanization. Besides conservation, measures like ban on hunting, grassland management, public awareness campaigns (McGowan and Kirwan, 2019) and conservation breeding are often recommended as tools to support threatened bird populations (IUCN/SSC, 2014).