Blyth's Tragopan

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

Male: The breast and the under parts are reddish to greyish, and not spotted; the upper parts is bright crimson and brown, tinged with red and marked with numerous white and maroon spots. The tail is yellowish brown with black markings, the terminal part is black. The wings are yellowish brown coloured, with black bars; the tips of the secondaries and the greater coverts have brown patches and white spots. The facial skin is yellowish to orange. Its total length is about 65-70 cm.

Female: The general plumage is olive, with coarse markings; black ocelli are dominant on the back. The dorsal plumage is not streaked with white. It has a yellowish orbital skin.

Did you know?
that all Blyth's tragopans in human care a re closely related? If no new founders can be obtained from India the ex situ population is likely to die out due to lack of genetic diversity.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	GALLIFORMES
Suborder	PHASIANI
Family	PHASIANIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Tragopan blythii
Name (English)	Blyth's Tragopan
Name (French)	Tragopan de Blyth
Name (German)	Blyth-Tragopan
Name (Spanish)	Tragopan de Blyth
Local names	Hurra-hurrea (Assamese)
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Vladimír Motyčka

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar
Habitat	Subtropical and temperate evergreen forests
Wild population	Approx. 2,500-10,000 individuals (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	39 tragopans were registered by the International studbook (WAZA - ISB, 2004).

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 16 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
JoJan

Why do zoos keep this animal

There are less than 10'000 Blyth's tragopans surviving in the wild and the species is rated vulnerable by IUCN. With a view of building up a reserve population, an International Studbook has been established under the WAZA umbrella, and coordinated conservation breeding programmes are operated at the regional level in Europe. The number of birds listed in the studbook is small however (about 40).

How this animal should be kept

The Blyth’s tragopan is usually kept in outdoor aviaries of at least 18m² for one pair. The enclosure should include a shelter of at least 3m² for one pair, or at least a suitable cover to protect the birds from heavy rain and wind. The indoor housing doesn’t need to be heated in a temperate climate. A heating lamp may be useful below 0°C.

When designing an aviary it may be worth to ensure that it can be split into two sections in the event of needing to separate the birds, particularly when the hen has chicks.

Sand, natural soil or bark chips are suitable substrates for the aviary, which should be well planted with shrubs. The indoor facilities should be easy to clean and disinfect, such as concrete covered with bark chips. In and outdoors high perches must be in place to allow roosting at night.

Blyth’s tragopans are fed a standard pheasant diet consisting of pellets mixed with wheat, fruit, and salad. Limestone or grit should be available all the time, especially in the case of bark-covered soil, together with fresh water. The food should be placed in the indoor housing or under a cover in order for it to be protected from rain. Before and during the breeding season the feed should be supplemented with vitamins and mineral powder.

The birds should be dewormed twice a year, usually in February and September.