Western Tragopan

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Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus

JustificationThis species is classified as Vulnerable because its small and sparsely distributed population isdeclining and becoming increasingly fragmented in the face of continuing forest loss anddegradation throughout its restricted range. Recent estimates suggest the population size

may be smaller than previously thought, in light of which the species may warrant uplistingto Endangered.

Taxonomic source(s)Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. YaleUniversity Press, New Haven, USA.

IdentificationMale 68-73 cm, female 60 cm. Typical tragopan, with orange to red collar, red facial skin andwhite-spotted, black belly.Similar spp. Confusion could arise with Satyr Tragopan T.

satyra in the south-east of its range, although recent surveys suggest that the two speciesonly occur sympatrically in one area of Uttarakhand where they occur in a single catchment.Male differs from that species primarily by red facial skin and mostly black base-colour oflower breast to vent, female has a noticeably duller and greyer base-colour to upperparts

and, in particular, underparts. Voice Territorial call, nasal, wailing khuwaah, repeated 7-15times during the breeding season. Abrupt waa waa waa when agitated.


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Map Data - Terms of Use

Distribution and populationTragopan melanocephalus has a disjunct distribution in the western Himalayas (A.Rahmani in litt. 2012), occurring from Indus-Kohistan district, north Pakistan, east throughKashmir and Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand, north-westIndia (BirdLife International

2001). Although historically described as scarce and local, a mid-1980s population estimateof 1,600-4,800 birds was revised in the mid-1990s to c.5,000 birds following the discovery ofseveral significant populations in north Pakistan, the largest of which (tentatively estimated

at 325 pairs) is in Palas Valley. Recent reports of additional populations in Azad Jammu andKashmir (Pakistan) and Himachal Pradesh (India) as well as new data confirming its

occurrence in Uttarakhand suggest that the population may require further upward revision inthe future (K. Ramesh in litt. 2007). However, there is also recent evidence suggesting that

call count methodologies overestimate true population densities as many calls may refer tounpaired males and hence simply doubling the number of calling birds is unlikely toaccurately reflect the size of a breeding population. Along with declines since the 1990s, this

may mean the population size is significantly lower than 5,000 individuals. The prevalence of

threats also implies that the population is now lower than this, and it has been suggestedthat there are now only 2,500-3,500 individuals remaining in the wild (S. PandeyperA.

Rahmani in litt. 2012); however, surveys should be carried out to confirm this.

Population justificationA population estimate of at least 5,000 individuals is derived from Gaston et al. (1981b) and

McGowan and Garson (1995). This is roughly equivalent to 3,300 mature individuals. Recent

reports of additional populations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and Himachal Pradeshmay lead to an increase in the estimated global population size in the future, althoughconversely it has been suggested that the world population in the wild has been reduced to

2,500-3,500 individuals (S. PandeyperA. Rahmani in litt. 2012), prompting the need forwider surveys.

Trend justification

The species's population is likely to be in decline given the combined threats of trapping,hunting, disturbance by humans and livestock, and habitat degradation (F. Buner in litt.

2012), but this decline has not been quantified and is not thought to be particularly severe,
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thus the rate of decline is suspected to be moderate.

Ecology

During the breeding season (April-June), it inhabits little-disturbed temperate coniferous anddeciduous forests, from 2,400-3,600 m. In winter, it makes very local altitudinal or lateralmovements, to grassy or shrubby gulleys with less snow cover, between 1,750 m and 3,000

m.

ThreatsThreats to the species are thought to have intensified in recent years (A. Rahmani inlitt. 2012). Habitat degradation and fragmentation through subsistence farming, browsing of

understorey shrubs by livestock, tree-lopping for animal fodder and fuelwood-collection are

the main threats. Disturbance by grazers and particularly collectors of edible fungi andmedicinal plants may seriously interfere with nesting. Hunting and trapping for its meat(especially in winter) and its decorative plumage pose additional threats, throughout

Pakistan (R. Nawaz in litt. 2004), Himachal Pradesh and Chamba (India).

Conservation actions underway

CITES Appendix I. It is afforded legal protection in both India and Pakistan. It occurs in

national parks in both Pakistan and India, as well as in 10 wildlife sanctuaries. Discovery ofthe large Palas population triggered a major conservation initiative in the region for which

this bird is the flagship species. A galliform monitoring and conservation project within the

valley ended in 2010 (F. Buner in litt. 2012). Surveys have been conducted recently acrossmost of its presumed range in Pakistan, and in Himachal Pradesh, where, in 2005, c.3,000forest guards and officers were involved in a coordinated week long state-wide survey (L.

Mohan in litt. 2007). It is currently the subject of a conservation breeding programme in

Himachal Pradesh (J. Corder in litt. 2004), involving fewer than 10 pairs, which produce fewerthan three broods each year (F. Buner in litt. 2012), with the long-term possibility of futurereleases of parent-reared offspring to augment/restock local wild populations (K. Ramesh in

litt. 2007). Awareness-raising activities, field officer training and population surveys wereconducted recently in Salkhala Game Reserve, Pakistan (Awan 2010). Surveys in Himachal

Pradesh were initiated by the state wildlife department in 2011, and state-wide surveys were

started there in 2012 (F. Buner in litt. 2012).

Conservation actions proposedConduct surveys to increase knowledge of its current distribution and abundance, especially

in Pakistani and Indian Kashmir, where very few data exist (F. Buner in litt. 2012). Initiate

public awareness campaigns in and around known sites, highlighting its flagship status for theconservation of moist temperate forests and other pheasant species. Develop monitoringmethods and then monitor key populations regularly. Study the ecology of radio-tagged birds

(A. Rahmani in litt. 2012). Improve management in key protected areas. Extend the

boundaries of Salkhala Game Reserve and implement a monitoring programme (Awan2010).

Documents

Western Tragopan