Crimson Horned Pheasant, one of the rarest birds in India has been rediscovered after a span of 170 years. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the scientists at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), rediscovered satyr tragopan, or crimson horned pheasant in Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, West Bengal.
The sighting of the satyr tragopan was first reported by Hickell in 1842, between the present Kurseong and Sonada region of Darjeeling district.
About Satyr Tragopan
Considered one of the most beautiful birds in India, the male satyr tragopan (tragopan satyra) is also one of the rarest in the country. Male satyr’s are 68 cm and are a bright crimson red with white spots. On the other hand, the female ones are smaller and less conspicuous and are brown in colour.
The bird is best seen in Neora Valley National Park, Darjeeling, although Singalila National Park, Darjeeling is also known to inhabit some of these birds. Often called “horned pheasants”, Tragopans display horn-like projections during their courtship. Satyr tragopans reside in moist oak and rhododendron forests with dense undergrowth and bamboo clumps.
A Significant Sighting
According to Dhriti Banerjee, Director of ZSI, the rediscovery of satyr tragopan, a pheasant bird after 170 years from the landscape is encouraging as it indicates that the forested habitats are well preserved and effectively managed.
Moreover, their population faces the threat of habitat destruction and hunting. Thus, the rediscovery of the now considered to be a near-threatened bird is a positive sign for the bird species.
Other animal sightings
In addition to crimson horned pheasant, the scientists recorded the high abundance of melanistic barking deer (12 camera captures) and common leopard (14 camera captures) in the Protected Area (PA). A camera trap study conducted in the sanctuary between 2018-2020, revealed the presence of 17 species of such medium and large mammals, signaling a thriving environment for flora and fauna.
Of these animals, three have been categorized as vulnerable (Asiatic black bear, common leopard, mainland serow) and three as near threatened (golden cat, marbled Cat, black giant squirrel) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Barking deer yielded the most number of camera captures followed by wild boar, large Indian civet, mainland serow, leopard cat, common leopard, Malayan porcupine etc.
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