The Hindu : New Delhi News : Cheeping pheasants in Delhi Zoo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 02, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cheeping pheasants in Delhi Zoo

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo has undertaken a unique project to protect the pheasants. Selected by the World Pheasant Association (WPA) to house and run its breeding and conservation programme, the zoo has had its first major success with the pheasants this season.

It has recorded the birth of young ones of red jungle fowl (20), silver (5) and Edward's pheasant (5). The zoo also houses ringnecked pheasants and golden pheasants.

The pheasants and their relatives live in almost every corner of the world and are barometers of the health of all major terrestrial habitats. The group that has some of the most beautiful and threatened birds in the world is also among the most useful birds known to man. However, with their numbers dropping steadily, there is an urgent need to conserve and push up their figures, say experts.

"`The Delhi Zoo through the project aims to develop and promote the conservation of pheasants. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is funding the project and we have created an exclusive zone for the birds. The WPA is providing technical assistances under the programme," said zoo director D.N. Singh. Under this programme, the zoo has marked out an exclusive section with specially made enclosures -- closed to the public -- that allows the birds the right environment and enables close supervision.

"Under the programme we have selected the best suited area for the breeding of the birds and renovated the enclosures with eco-friendly building material. The enclosure also allowed us to incorporate smaller plants and trees and protect the birds from direct sunlight. The added advantage that we provided the birds with was a zero public disturbance zone, an essential component under the breeding programme. Also the young ones will be kept here till they are old enough to be shifted to the display area," added Mr. Singh.

"India has 17 pheasant species of which eight are listed on the endangered list. These are a group of very useful birds. In fact, the red jungle fowl is being used in several research projects and with the threat of the avian flu looming large the world is re-looking at these birds now. The conservation and breeding of these beautiful group of birds is essential," said WPA (India) president Samar Singh.

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