- Scientists say that Himalayan pheasants remain poorly studied due to the lack of long-term tracking and localised baseline surveys.
- Pheasant species, such as the white-crested kalij pheasant, face mounting threats from habitat degradation, hunting, grazing, and activities that disturbs nesting.
- These threats could potentially impact other pheasant species, such as the endemic and more vulnerable western tragopan, of which only around 200 to 300 birds remain in Jammu and Kashmir.
The white-crested kalij pheasant, a relatively adaptable bird, is under increasing pressure from habitat degradation, hunting and other human activities in the forests of the northwestern Himalayas, according to a study that looked at community perceptions of threats to the bird. The bird is listed as least concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating it is common and widespread.
Researchers say the findings are an early warning to conserve the region’s forests and other rarer pheasant species.
Pheasants are a group of ground-dwelling birds belonging to the family Phasianidae. The Indian subcontinent is home to 51 pheasant species, of which 20 are endemic to the Indian Himalayas. They occupy habitats ranging from tropical forests to alpine meadows and are among the region’s most distinctive birds, known for their colourful plumage. Despite their ecological importance as indicators of forest health, many remain poorly studied and face growing threats from habitat loss and hunting.
Among these Himalayan pheasants is the white-crested kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni). It is widely distributed across the western Himalayas, including Jammu and Kashmir and is listed in the least concern category in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. More adaptable than many other Himalayan pheasants, it occupies a range of forest habitats but relies on dense understorey vegetation for food, nesting and cover from predators.
“The white-crested kalij pheasant is mainly found in mixed forests, coniferous forests, scrublands and near forest edges close to human habitations. Unlike most other high-altitude pheasant species, it occupies lower elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,500 metres above sea level,” says Arif Nabi Lone, a researcher at the Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, and one of the authors of the study that was published last year.
“Like other pheasant species, it plays an essential role in Himalayan ecosystems by forming a major prey base for carnivores and raptors. Besides, it also acts as a seed disperser and soil aerator. In Kashmir, locally it is known as “wan-kokur”, which can be translated as wild cock,” Lone says.
The study, carried out in the Limber and Lachipora wildlife sanctuaries in the Baramulla district of the northwestern Himalayas, identified habitat degradation and hunting emerged as the most severe threats. “Livestock grazing and mushroom collection posed moderate risks, while forest fire was perceived as a relatively low threat. Additional pressures, such as natural predation and climate change, may further exacerbate the species’ vulnerability,” the findings showed.
Lone says that the kalij pheasant’s ability to live close to human settlements also exposes it to human disturbance. “Timber and firewood collection, resource extraction and deforestation are degrading its habitat. Hunting and overgrazing are other serious threats. Mushroom collection is particularly concerning because it coincides with the breeding season, and people searching for mushrooms often disturb nesting females, reducing their breeding success,” he says.
Vulnerable tragopans
Another pheasant species in the regions, such as the endemic western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), whose survival depends on undisturbed mountain forests, may also be under threat from human activity. The western tragopan is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in India providing it with the highest protection.
Known as “danne geer” in the Kashmiri language and “ratte galla” in Gojri and Pahadi languages, the pheasant has very specific habitat requirements. It depends on undisturbed oak and conifer forests with a dense understorey of shrubs.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the western tragopan is found in the Jhelum valley forests of the Kazinag range, the Shamshabari mountains of Kupwara, the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal from Tattakuti Wildlife Sanctuary to the Khara Gali conservation reserve, and parts of the Chenab valley. Surveys by the Wildlife Trust of India and the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir, also identified new areas of occurrence, highlighting the importance of these protected areas for the species.
Riyaz Ahmad, a senior ecologist at the KAUST Beacon Development (KBD) in Saudi Arabia, describes the bird as one of the most elusive species in the Himalayas. Ahmad is the former head of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of Wildlife Conservation for Wildlife Trust of India where he also conducted surveys that established the status of the western tragopan in the region.
Ahmad explains that beyond its ecological value, the species also plays an important role in maintaining forest ecosystems. It helps disperse seeds and forms part of the food web as both prey and predator, contributing to the ecological balance of Himalayan forests.
However, its elusive nature has also made it difficult to study. “The western tragopan is extremely shy and gets disturbed even by slight human presence. The bird is usually detected during the breeding season, when males become more vocal and advertise for mates. Most population estimates in Jammu and Kashmir have therefore been based on call-count surveys conducted during this period,” he says. “The population of western tragopan in Jammu and Kashmir may be between 200-300 birds, although the population trend remains uncertain.”
Moreover, he adds, the forests are increasingly being degraded and fragmented by livestock grazing, fodder and firewood collection, tree felling, and other developmental pressures. The collection of non-timber forest products, including medicinal plants, can also disturb the species during its breeding season.
Human disturbance is not the only challenge facing the western tragopan. A recent modelling study by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, suggests that climate change could push the bird’s suitable habitat to higher elevations, adding more pressure.
Ahmad says the bird’s future is closely tied to the health of Himalayan forests. “The western tragopan is a barometer of pristine habitats. If its numbers decline, it is a warning that something is going wrong in these ecosystems. Regular monitoring, especially within protected areas, can help us assess whether our conservation efforts are working,” he says.
He adds that protecting this flagship species will also safeguard many other species and the fragile mountain landscapes they depend on.
Knowledge gaps and conservation measures
Scientists say much remains unknown about Himalayan pheasants as a whole, as they are difficult to monitor. Rahul Kaul, an ecologist and former CEO of Wildlife Trust of India, says India holds about one-third of all pheasant species of the world and therefore must play a vital role in their conservation. “Most of these 17 species are found in the Himalaya (both western and eastern) and persistence of Himalayan habitats is central to the survival of pheasants,” says Kaul who is part of the IUCN SSC Galliformes Specialist Group dedicated to the study and conservation of Galliformes, an order of birds which includes pheasants.
Ankita Sinha, a wildlife biologist and researcher at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Institute, Germany, says that traditional call counts are increasingly being supplemented with camera traps, intensive searches and social surveys to improve population estimates. However, major gaps remain in understanding the birds’ behaviour, movements and responses to climate change. “The lack of long-term tracking and localised baseline surveys remains the biggest barrier to effective conservation,” she says.
“Besides scientific inputs, strengthening anti-hunting enforcement, expanding community awareness, using the species as a flagship for habitat management and community-led conservation and developing landscape-level participatory conservation action plans across all range states involving locals and conservation experts is imperative,” she says.
“Pheasants are also called ‘indicator’ species; their presence or absence from a particular area tells us about the state of that habitat. Therefore, a project launched centrally could be beneficial for the whole Himalayan areas and the whole lot of biodiversity it contains,” says Kaul.
While researchers call for stronger monitoring and conservation, the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir, says pheasant populations in the northwestern Himalayas remain relatively stable, although several threats warrant attention.
Intesar Suhail, Wildlife Warden, North Kashmir, agrees that a species classified as least concern is not necessarily free from conservation concerns.
“But this is not the case with the white-crested kalij, a common and widely distributed species across much of the western Himalayas. Pheasant populations in Kashmir are generally well protected and doing well. Except for the western tragopan, most species are fairly commonly sighted. Over the past couple of years, we have also recorded encouraging sightings of the western tragopan in Kazinag National Park and Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary,” he says.
Suhail, however, warns that pheasants remain vulnerable to human disturbance and adds that habitat management remains a key part of conservation efforts.
“The interventions we undertake in protected areas are aimed at improving habitats holistically, benefiting all wildlife, including pheasants. During winter, when heavy snowfall makes these birds particularly vulnerable, we deploy special anti-poaching squads and increase patrolling and surveillance to prevent hunting.”
Kaul predicts that the white-crested kalij will always be affected more than other pheasants perhaps in the western Himalayas, but since they are spread across a much wider spectrum of habitats and altitude, their chances of survival are much better. For the western tragopan, he says that provided forests and the bird’s sites are intact, the change the species will see is moving up along the altitudinal gradients, likely because of climate change.
“So far, studies have largely focused on projecting how climate change might push pheasant species into new areas and identifying potential refuges where they may persist. Ground-level research to verify these predictions is still lacking,” he said.
Banner image: One of the world’s rarest pheasants, the western tragopan depends on undisturbed mountain forests for survival, but faces growing pressure from habitat degradation and human disturbance. Image by Jainy Maria.
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