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Recent studies indicate that suitable habitats for the Western Tragopan exist in Jammu & Kashmir, but habitat fragmentation and human disturbance continue to threaten the species. Meanwhile, a captivebreeding programme at Sarahan Pheasantry (Himachal Pradesh) has helped stabilise its numbers.

About Western Tragopan

• Common Name: Western Tragopan
• Scientific Name:Tragopan melanocephalus
• Also known as Jujurana or “King of Birds”
• State Bird of Himachal Pradesh
• One of the world’s rarest pheasants

Habitat & Distribution

• Found in the Western Himalayas at elevations of 2,400–3,600 metres
• Prefers:
  • Moist temperate forests
  • Dense undergrowth
  • Ringal bamboo thickets
  • Rhododendron shrubs
  • Conifer forests

Key Strongholds

• Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh)
• Kazinag and Limber areas in Jammu & Kashmir
• Pockets in Uttarakhand and northern Pakistan

Populations now survive only in small, fragmented pockets.

Population Status

• IUCN estimates 3,000–9,500 mature individuals remain
• Entire global population forms a single fragile sub-population
• Around a quarter of the population occurs in the Western Himalayas and northern Pakistan

Key Characteristics

Male

• Velvet-black head
• Bright crimson breast
• White-spotted body
• Distinctive blue and orange facial wattles used in courtship displays

Female

• Smaller, brown and camouflaged
• Immature males resemble females

Behaviour

• Ground-dwelling and shy
• Most active at dawn and dusk
• Diet includes berries, seeds, buds, shoots, and insects

Breeding

• Breeding season: May–June
• Lays 3–5 eggs in well-hidden nests

Threats

• Habitat loss due to forest degradation
• Fragmentation of temperate forests
• Human disturbance (grazing, tourism, infrastructure)
• Hunting and poaching

These pressures reduce safe breeding areas and isolate populations.

Conservation Status

• Listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
• Recognised as a flagship and indicator species of high-altitude forest ecosystem health

Conservation Efforts

• Captive Breeding: The Sarahan Pheasantry in Himachal Pradesh has successfully bred 40+ Western Tragopans, creating an insurance population against extinction.
• Habitat Protection: Protected areas like Great Himalayan National Park and forest reserves in J&K are critical for wild populations.

However, reintroduction into natural habitats remains challenging due to ongoing habitat disturbance.