Nation steps up efforts to protect green peafowl

The pheasant occupies a privileged position in China, inspiring numerous poems, paintings and songs in ancient times.

It is also believed to be linked to the mythical phoenix, which in Chinese legends was nicknamed the "king of birds".

Han Lianxian, an ornithologist at Southwest Forestry University in Kunming, Yunnan province, said: "Many Chinese people have seen pheasants. However, few have witnessed China's native pheasant species－the green peafowl, which has incredibly beautiful tail feathers and is now under top-level protection."

Blue peafowl are commonly seen in zoos and parks, Han said, adding that as China's only native pheasant, green peafowl (Pavo muticus) are bigger and have yellow checks and shiny green neck feathers.

Moreover, different from female blue peafowl, which have dark brown feathers, female green peafowl have shorter tail plumage but lustrous blue and green feathers like the males.

However, the beauty of the green peafowl has become its major threat. Males are hunted for their extravagant tail feathers. Eggs and chicks are also sought for illegal trade, and some of the birds have been poisoned by farmland pesticides.

The population of the species has declined significantly throughout East Asia since the turn of the century and it is now only reported in scattered locations in a few countries.

The green peafowl is among the most-threatened pheasants in the world. Its plight was highlighted in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Pheasant Action Plan, where it was listed as one of the highest priorities for conservation. There are estimated to be 15,000 to 30,000 of the birds worldwide.

As the sole habitat of the green peafowl in China, the southwestern province of Yunnan has reported the species being sighted on the middle and upper reaches of the Yuanjiang River. Sightings have also been reported sporadically elsewhere in the province, such as in Puer city and several areas of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture.

According to the Yunnan Forestry and Grassland Administration, there are 555 to 600 of the birds in the province.