12.12.2025

Western Tragopan (Jujurana)

Context

A captive-breeding programme at Sarahan Pheasantry, Himachal Pradesh, has successfully stabilised the Western Tragopan population, giving conservationists fresh hope. This programme is central to the conservation of this rare Himalayan pheasant.

About Western Tragopan

What it is?

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.

Key Characteristics

• Male: Velvet-black head, crimson breast, numerous fine white spots, and colourful blue–orange facial wattles (lappets) and fleshy horns used in elaborate mating displays.
• Female: Brown, camouflaged, smaller; immature males resemble females.
• Behaviour: Ground-dwelling, shy, and active at dawn/dusk.
• Diet & Breeding: Feeds on berries, seeds, buds, shoots, and insects. Breeds during May–June, laying 3–5 eggs in concealed nests.

Habitat

• Altitude: Found between 2,400–3,600 m (moving higher in summer) in moist temperate Himalayan and subalpine forests.
• Preferred Cover: Prefers dense undergrowth, ringal bamboo (dwarf bamboo), rhododendron thickets, and conifer forests, reflecting a high sensitivity to habitat disturbance.
• Key Strongholds: Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), Kazinag, Limber (J&K), and pockets in Uttarakhand and northern Pakistan.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Listed as Vulnerable (VU).
• Population: Only an estimated 3,000–9,500 mature individuals remain globally, all forming a single fragile sub-population.
• Indian Protection: Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (highest legal protection).
• CITES: Listed in Appendix I (to prevent commercial international trade).

Conservation Efforts and Threats

Captive Breeding Success

• The Sarahan Pheasantry in Himachal Pradesh runs the only successful captive-breeding programme for this species worldwide.
• Key Achievements: First captive births in 1993, with a major breakthrough in 2005. The current captive population stands at over 40 individuals, retaining high genetic diversity from its founders.
• Goal: The programme provides an "insurance policy" against extinction and aims to support future reintroduction into the wild.

Threats to Survival

• Habitat Loss & Fragmentation: Due to infrastructure expansion, livestock grazing, deforestation, and fuelwood collection.
• Climate Change: Shrinking moist temperate zones and climate variability disrupt the synchronization between breeding time and the availability of insect food for chicks, reducing survival rates.
• Anthropogenic Disturbances: Poaching for meat and plumage, and collection of minor forest produce (like medicinal herbs) in core habitats.

Significance

• Indicator Species: The Western Tragopan acts as an indicator species of high-altitude forest health; its survival reflects the integrity of the Western Himalayan ecosystem.
• Cultural Symbol: It is the official state bird of Himachal Pradesh, linking its conservation directly to the region’s cultural heritage.
• Integrated Conservation: Long-term survival depends on balancing the success of ex-situ (captive breeding) measures with strengthened in-situ (habitat protection) efforts, along with community involvement.