Drive to save rare Himalayan bird, 3 chicks born in captivity

SHIMLA: A highly-endangered Himalayan bird species has successfully hatched three chicks in captivity at a sanctuary in the hills of northern India, local wildlife officials said on Tuesday.   

The Western Tragopan, an increasingly rare spotted pheasant with bright plumage on its head and breast, is found in the cooler climes of northern Pakistan and India, where it is known as Jajaurana -- King of Birds.  

"It has bred in captivity for the second time at the Sarahan Pheasantry," said Arum Sharma, a wildlife official in charge of pheasants in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in the western reaches of the Himalayas.   

On the previous occasion, the chicks died soon after hatching, but wildlife officials are keeping their fingers crossed and visitors away.   

"The utmost care is being taken for the upkeep of the birds and nobody is allowed to visit the sanctuary," said Sharma.   

"Even the caretakers are keeping a safe distance so the birds are not disturbed."    Caretakers are also hoping more eggs will hatch over the next few days.   

According to the Red Data Book of threatened birds of Asia, there are less than 5,000 of the pheasants in the wild and only a handful in captivity.   

The data book, started by the Wild Bird Society of Japan in 1994, said the pheasant faced continuing forest loss and environmental degradation throughout its restricted range in the Himalayas.   

The project to breed the Western Tragopan in captivity at the Sarahan Pheasantry, 180 kilometres (112 miles) from state capital Shimla, was started with the help of British pheasant expert John Corder about four years ago.