Nearly Extinct Vietnamese Pheasant Returns Home After Nearly a Century

Ten White-crested Kalij Pheasants (Lophura edwardsi), an endemic species to central Vietnam, have returned to their homeland in Quang Tri province after nearly a century. The bird is assessed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is at risk of extinction in the wild. On August 4, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Tri province and the Vietnam Nature Conservation Centre (Viet Nature) received the 10 pheasants (five males, five females) from Germany. These birds originate from a population maintained through long-term captive breeding programs in Europe. The transfer was meticulously prepared based on health, genetic diversity, and animal welfare considerations, aiming to establish a foundation for a new population in central Vietnam. These birds will undergo acclimatization to the local climate, form breeding pairs, and raise their offspring naturally in Vietnam. The path to rewilding will only proceed if veterinary, genetic, behavioral, and habitat conditions are met. Specifically, training will include foraging skills, predator recognition and avoidance, and breeding and chick-rearing abilities. Simultaneously, measures will be taken to protect and restore habitats, reduce poaching, and establish a post-release monitoring system. Trial reintroductions are planned for 2028, with the program aiming to restore a self-sustaining wild population by 2035. These targets are long-term and will be adjusted based on scientific evidence and monitoring results. Ms. Pham Tuan Anh, Director of Viet Nature, stated, "This is about giving a second chance to an endemic species of Vietnam to return and thrive in the forests of its homeland. It is our shared pride and responsibility." Mr. Doan Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Department, noted that the return of the White-crested Kalij Pheasant is a crucial starting point, with the ultimate goal of creating conditions for the species to return to nature, reproduce, and survive sustainably in its native ecosystem. The White-crested Kalij Pheasant was once widely distributed in the lowland evergreen forests from Ha Tinh to Hue. First described in the late 19th century, it was considered one of the rarest birds in the world. In the early 20th century, French ornithologist Jean Delacour obtained many individuals in central Vietnam and brought some to France for captive breeding, which formed the origin of the current global captive population. However, decades of war, deforestation, and poaching have led to the species' near disappearance from the wild. The last confirmation in the wild was in Quang Tri province in 2000. Since 2011, Viet Nature, along with forest management agencies and partners, has conducted extensive surveys, including camera trapping in suitable habitats, but has found no evidence of the species' survival in the wild. Consequently, the focus has shifted from searching for the last individuals to active restoration, habitat protection, captive breeding, and preparation for reintroduction. Currently, over 1,000 White-crested Kalij Pheasants are held in conservation facilities in Europe, Japan, and the United States.