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June 12, 2007 
Rare Bird Hatches in Captivity in Himachal

Shimla
A highly endangered Himalayan bird species has successfully hatched three chicks in captivity in a Himachal Pradesh bird sanctuary, wildlife officials said Tuesday.

The highly endangered Western Tragopan, is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

"It has bred in captivity for the second time at the Sarahan Bird Pheasentry," said Arun Sharma, a wildlife official in charge of the Pheasantry.

Three Tragopan chicks had died two years ago in the pheasantary soon after being hatched and wildlife officials are hoping that this time the chicks will survive.

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

Caretakers are hoping that more eggs will be hatched in the next few days.

"Utmost care is being taken for the upkeep of the birds and nobody is allowed to visit the sanctuary, even the caretakers are keeping a safe distance so that the birds are not disturbed," said Sharma.

The Western Tragopan is a medium size, brightly coloured pheasant found in the Himalayas in Pakistan in the West to Uttarakhand in the East at an altitude of over 2400 metres.

The local name for the Western Tragopan is Jajaurana, which means the king of birds. 

IANS | June 12, 2007  

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