Pheasants: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan ... - IUCN

make ornaments and fans) is a localised problem in India.
In the Mishmi Hills, India, hunting intensity has
significantly reduced population densities (Katti et al.
1990). Habitat degradation, as a result of logging, is a
more localised threat (S. Kumar and P. Singh in litt.). The
habitats of the newly discovered taxon in Arunachal
Pradesh appear to be little threatened, owing to their
inaccessibility.
Conservation: CITES Appendix I. It occurs in the
Gaoligong Shan National Nature Reserve in Yunnan,
China, where it is locally common. The creation of Dibang
Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh offers
further protection. To an extent, the remote nature of its
habitats and range lessen the level of threat it faces from
hunting.
Targets:
• Conduct further research into the distribution and
taxonomic status of the probable new subspecies in
Arunachal Pradesh.
• Conduct further surveys in Yunnan, southeast Tibet, and
Arunachal Pradesh to determine its population status
and range.
• Carry out detailed ecological studies on habitat use,
feeding ecology, and threats.
• Campaign for protected areas in Towang, West Kameng,
East Kameng, and Lower Subansiri Districts, Arunachal
Pradesh.
Chinese monal
(Lophophorus lhuysii)
Vulnerable C2a
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small
population, which is continuing to decline because of ongoing
habitat degradation and hunting within an already
fragmented range.
Range and population: The Chinese monal is endemic to
southwest China, where it is recorded from the mountains
of western Sichuan and adjacent parts of eastern Tibet,
southeast Qinghai, southern Gansu, and northwest
Yunnan. Its total population has been estimated at 10,000–
20,000 individuals, and is believed to be declining, but not
rapidly (McGowan and Garson 1995).
Ecology: It inhabits subalpine rhododendron scrub, and
subalpine and alpine meadows with exposed cliffs and
crags above the treeline, but sometimes moves down into
subalpine coniferous forest. It has been recorded between
2,800 and 4,900m, but is normally found between 3,300
and 4,500m. Surveys at Baoxing in Sichuan suggested that
this species may take several years to reach maturity and
may not breed every year (He Fen-qi et al. 1988).
Threats: Its subalpine and alpine meadow habitats have
been degraded in some areas by an increase in the grazing
of wild yaks (Lu Tai-chun et al. 1986, He Fen-qi et al.
1988). The large-scale collection of Fritillaria spp., a known
food of this species (Bell 1995), and other herbs for Chinese
medicine causes local disturbance, and nests are sometimes
destroyed by these activities (Lu Tai-chun et al. 1986, He
Fen-qi et al. 1988). Illegal hunting is also considered to be
a localised threat and appeared to be the cause of a
substantial decline at Baoxing, where this species was
surveyed in 1983–86 and again in 1988 (He Fen-qi in litt.).
The forests in western Sichuan have been rapidly
exploited in recent decades, which has directly affected its
subalpine habitats. In addition, logging roads have
improved access to alpine habitats for local people (D.
Rimlinger in litt.).
Conservation: CITES Appendix I. It is a nationally
protected species (first class) in China. It has been recorded
in several nature reserves in the Qionglai Shan and Min
Shan ranges, most of which were established for the
conservation of giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca,
including Baihe, Tangjiahe, Wanglang, Wolong,
Jiuzhaigou, and Fengtongzhai in Sichuan, and Baishuijang
in Gansu. However, the areas of suitable habitat within
some of these reserves are probably relatively limited and
there are no protected areas in the western part of its range.
Targets:
• Promote measures to control hunting, herb collection,
and the increased grazing of yak.
• Conduct further extensive surveys, with the aim of
establishing more protected areas in the west of its
range.
• Conduct intensive ecological studies, particularly to
determine the impacts of human exploitation (including
yak grazing) on its subalpine and alpine habitats.
Sumatran pheasant
(Lophura hoogerwerfi)
Vulnerable C2b
This species is judged as Vulnerable because it has a single,
small population that is presumed to be declining, owing to
current rates of clearance of mid-altitude forests combined
with hunting pressure.
Taxonomy: The Sumatran pheasant is sometimes
considered conspecific with the Salvadori’s pheasant
(Delacour 1977). The males are apparently morphologically
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