Western Tragopan:
A captive-breeding programme at Sarahan Pheasantry, Himachal Pradesh, has successfully stabilised the Western Tragopan population, giving conservationists fresh hope.
- The Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) — also called Jujurana or “king of birds” — is one of the world’s rarest pheasants and the state bird of Himachal Pradesh.
- It is a flagship species of the Western Himalayas, known for its striking plumage and ecological sensitivity.
- Found between 2,400–3,600 m in moist temperate Himalayan forests.
- Prefers dense undergrowth, ringal bamboo, rhododendron thickets, and conifer forests.
- Key strongholds include : Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), Kazinag, Limber (J&K), and pockets in Uttarakhand and northern Pakistan.
- IUCN Status: Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- Only 3,000–9,500 mature individuals remain, all forming a single fragile sub-population.
