Distribution, Population status and Conservation of Cheer Pheasant (Catreus Wallichii) in Jhelum Valley, Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

Cheer pheasant (catreus wallichii), listed as an endangered species in Red Data Book (IUCN), reported on have been extinct in all over the Pakistan, but fortunately is present in some areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Jhelum valley where it has patch distribution. There is little scientific data on distribution and population status of this bird in Azad Kashmir, where it is reported to be declining due to hunting and habitat degradation, since the people are unaware of its importance. There is a dire need of the time to make some strategies for conservation of this precious bird. The surveys were conducted from 1st December 2003 to 25th September 2005 in 13 main localities and 19 sub localities in district Muzaffarabad to study the distribution, population and habitat utilization of cheer pheasant. Each sub locality was further divided into calling sites of cheer pheasant. The maximum population density (17.31/Km2) during the first year was recorded from Cheetah-I and minimum (5.33/Km2) at low Galli-II, however, during the second year the maximum (16.67/Km2) population density was recorded at Shinger-II and minimum (5.33/Km2) at Mirgan. A total of 38 calling sites were found in the study area with the total population of 249 birds. During the first year only 25 calling sites with the total population of 128 were recorded, while during the second year 13 new calling sites were explored with the increase of 121 more birds. The calling site density during the first year showed maximum value (2.88/Km2) at Cheetah-I and minimum (1.33/Km2) at low Gali-I and Cheetah-II, while the maximum (n=3) calling sites at Cheetah-I and minimum (n=1) at low Gali. During the second year Cheetah-I had the highest density (2.77/Km2) for calling sites, with maximum 3 calling sites and low Gali-I had minimum density (0.86/Km2) with only one calling site. The phytosociological study at seven main localities showed that the Pinus wallichiana, among trees, Plactranthus rugosus, Indigofera heterantha and Berberis lyceum among shrubs, while Heteropogan contortus and cynodon dactylon among herb were common and characteristics of each habitat correlation analysis between Cheer pheasant population and importance values of plant species showed the negative correlation with trees (r=- 0.167, p ˃0.05), significant correlation with shrubs (r=0.569, P ˂ 0.05) and herbs (r=0.632, P ˂ 0.05).