Number of rare bird, Cheer Pheasant, increases in Myagdi's Kaligandaki Basin

Myagdi, Nov 4: The number of the rare bird Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) has increased in the high hilly areas around the Kaligandaki River basin in the district.

According to a study conducted by the Nepalese Ornithological Union (NOU), the number of the Cheer Pheasant has increased this year compared to sixteen years ago. The NOU recently conducted a study of this bird in Ghansa, Lete, Kunjo, Titital, Khanti, and Jhipra Deurali area in Thasang Rural Municipality of Mustang.

The team that prepared the report on the study conducted in Mustang has arrived to Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality of Myagdi and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve to study the condition of the Cheer Pheasant.

Researcher Birat Rajak, who participated in the study team, reported that 18 pairs of Cheer Pheasant were found this time at the seven locations whereas six pairs were recorded in 2009.

"Seventeen pairs of the rare bird were found in 2004 and 11 pairs in 2006. There had been no study after 2009. In the study conducted this time after 16 years, an increase in the number of the Cheer Pheasant has been observed in the upper Kali Gandaki region," he said.

According to Rajak, conservation education in the community, awareness development, control of poaching, and increased human and domestic animal activities around habitats have contributed to the increase in the Cheer Pheasant population.

Cheer Pheasants are primarily found in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, and Rara National Park, as well as in the mountain region in Myagdi and Baglung, and in the Karnali and Far-Western regions.

Bishnu Adhikari, chief of the Division Forest Office, Myagdi, said that the Cheer Pheasant has been listed as an endangered species under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029BS.

The study has been initiated here in Myagdi as the Cheer Pheasant were also found in the banks of Kaligandaki as well as in Myagdi and Raghuganga.

Programme Officer at the Biodiversity Conservation Society Nepal, Pawan Rai, stated that a long-term Cheer Pheasant Conservation Programme will be carried out based on the report obtained after studying the areas around the Myagdi River in Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality and the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.(RSS)