Oxford University Press, Delhi, India, p 303. IUCN, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK and the Journal of World Pheasant Association, p 76. Pheasants, Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2000-2004, WPA/BirdLife/SSC pheasants Specialist Group. International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, p 113-230.įuller RA, Garson PJ. Protected areas, Ramsar sites and World Heritage site. International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, p 128.īhuju UR, Shakaya PR, Banset TB, Sherestha S. ENVIS Bull., Wildlife Protected Areas 10, 155-162.īhuju UR. Impact of Anthropogenic Pressures on Abundance and Distribution of Galliformes at Bedini-Ali, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand. Forktail 28, 38-43.īhattacharya T, Sathyakumar S, Rawat GS. Annotated checklist of birds and conservation issues in Salkhala Game Reserve, an isolated Important Bird Area in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. International Galliformes Symposium, p 78-87.Īwan MN, Ali H, Lee DC.

Mapping the habitat and distribution of western tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus in the Palas Valley, Pakistan using land cover, terrain and field survey data. The study concluded that the population of pheasants is decreasing through hunting, habitat degradation, increasing human settlement, plant extraction for medicinal, collection of non-timber forest products, fires and livestock grazing.ĭistribution and habitat analysis of Himalayan Monal pheasant (Lophophorus Impejanus) in Palas valley, district Kohistan, PakistanĪshraf S, Daud A, Moeen F. Major flora recorded from Monal habitat was Pinus wallichian, Betula utilis, Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana, Cedrus deodara, Debregeasia salicifolia, Geranium wallichianum, and Berberis brandisiana etc. Distribution was also examined by direct and indirect signs comprising sighting, ground scratching, faecal droppings, feathers footprints and information gathered from hunters, native communities and wildlife officials.

The results showed that the population density of Monal was not significantly different in all three habitat types (F = 2.31 df = 26 P = 0.1208). The highest population density recorded in Karosair mixed conifer forest was 8.92 birds/km 2, followed by 7.14 birds/km 2 in Deewan Nallah Fir-spruce & Betula, while the lowest (5.95 birds/km 2) was recorded in Kabkot Fir-spruce habitat. A total of 21 calls were noted during this study having an overall population density of 7.5 birds/km 2. We conducted a call count method to record the population of Monal pheasants and established 10 call count stations and 30 quadrats in the study area (3 in each site). Each habitat was further divided into 3-4 study points for systematic surveys. Karosair mixed conifer forest, Deewan Nallah Fir-spruce & Betula habitat and Kabkot Fir-spruce Habitat. For this purpose, three different habitats were selected i.e. Despite this, its population has been steadily dropping.The present study was conducted to assess the distribution and habitat association of Himalayan Monal ( Lophophorus impejanus) in Palas valley, district Kohistan. Monal is also known as the ‘ Crown of Himalayan Birds,’ and its hunting is strictly prohibited under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act. Captive breeding of monal was attempted but failed in Nanda Devi National Park in Kanchula Khark (Gopeshwar). It is mostly found in the Munsyari tehsil of the Pithoragarh district, namely in Khaliyadhar, Khaliya top, Kholta, Hunsling, Lenga, Panchuli Valley, and Nakuridhura.Īdditionally, it has been designated as the State Bird of Himachal Pradesh and Nepal. Shepherds cook and devour their eggs in order to stave against the intense cold. Britishers used to hunt and exhibit monal corpses, which do not degrade over time. It loves potatoes and is often assassinated in potato fields. It typically walks, but if it detects danger, it may potentially fly. It feeds on algae that have accumulated on tree branches and on the roots of different plants. It lays a maximum of four eggs at a time. It never nests and lays eggs in the open sky, under the snow cover. By notifying hunters, it protects Musk Deer. It generally dwells in the mountains, but after winter, it descends to the valleys, where it is at risk of being poached.

Himalayan monal bird