Behaviour of Edwards’s Pheasant

Description

The Edwards’s Pheasant Lophura edwardsi is an endemic galliform species of the Central Vietnamese lowland forests where it has not been observed since 2000. It is listed critically endangered by the IUCN, but the relatively large population of more than 1500 individuals in zoos and among private bird keepers bears the potential of re-introduction, provided suitable habitats and conservation management measures are in place.

A crucial aspect of the decision-making progress on a reintroduction is the sound knowledge of the species in terms of its habitat use and behavior. The Edwards’s Pheasant has never been subject to scientific studies in the wild, which is why captive individuals are of major importance instead. An important tool in reintroduction biology is the use of GPS tags in order to study the movement of released animals and to assess their survival rates. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of necklace radio transmitters on the pheasants’ behaviour in order to evaluate the applicability of GPS tags in a potential reintroduction program.

Location