palawan peacock pheasant

8/7/2019 Palawan Peacock Pheasant

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P O L Y P L E C T R O N N A P O L E O N I S

NAPOLEONS PEACOCK-

PHEASANT

Palawan Peacock-pheasant


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This is the Palawan peacock-pheasant.


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Indian PeafowlIndian Peafowl Green PeafowlGreen Peafowl

Not to be mistaken for other species like:


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Key Facts

Key facts

y 2010 IUCN( International Union forConservation of Nature)Red List status

y Vulnerable

y Family

y Phasianidae (Grouse, pheasants andpartridges)

y Species name authory Lesson, 1831

y Population estimate

y 2,500-9,999 Mature individuals

y Population trend

y decreasing

y Range estimate (breeding/resident)

y 11,500 km2

y Country endemic?

y Yes (Philippines)

TAXONOMY

y Kingdomy Animaliay Phylumy Chordatay Classy Avesy Ordery Galliformesy Familyy Phasinidaey Genusy Polyplectron


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Status

y Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List2007 and listed on Appendix I ofCITES(Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species of

wild Flora and Fauna)

y Appendix Ilists species that are the mostendangered among CITES-listed animals and plants.These are threatened with extinction and CITESgenerally prohibits commercial international trade in

specimens of these species. However trade may beallowed under exceptional circumstances, e.g. forscientific research


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Palawan Peacock

y Maley Size: 50 cmy Weight: 436 gy Long, pointed, dark crest which is dark

metallic green as is the crown and necky Bare red orbital skiny Rest of the head, underparts, and flight

feathers are black.y Black back, rump and tail, speckled

with rusty brown spots and with tworows of large green-blue ocelli(eye-likepatterns) on tail.

y Voice Loud angk repeated regularlyy Extremely shy, best located by cally Considered to be most beautiful of the

peacock species.y Male is attractively colored to attract a

female.


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Palawan Peahen

y Femaley Size: 40 cmy Weight: 322 gy Crest is shorter and often held flaty Face is pale gray that extends from

above the eyes to the throaty Mainly mottled brown, has a crest that

is brown, and isnt as visible as themale.

y Off-white throat ear-coverts andsupercilium

y Tail is much shorter than the maleswith very faint ocelli on the feathers.

y Similar to PhilippineScrubfowlMegapodius cumingiior

female Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus,but is shorter-legged, longer-tailed andmore uniform brown

y Voice Loud angk repeated regularlyy Extremely shy, best located by call


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Habitat

y can be found only on the island of Palawan.

y they inhabit the islands humid, coastal lowlandforest and deep forests, which are rapidly

diminishing due to deforestation.y several habitat sites are known to exist in the central

mountain range. Due to deforestation, it is nowthought that they are becoming increasinglyrestricted to the islands mountains.

y Lives, feeds and nests on the floor of primary andsecondary forest on flat and rolling terrain, up toaround 800 metres above sea level.


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Range and Population

y Polyplectron napoleonis is endemic tothe Philippines, where it occurs on Palawan. It isknown from 20 localities throughout the island, with

records from at least 11 since 1980. Local reportssuggest it has a wider distribution. In the early1970s, despite local extinctions, it was notconsidered particularly rare. In 1995, its fragmented

population was estimated to number less than10,000. It is evidently still declining.


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Threats to its survival:

y Deforestation due to illegal logging which resulted toit having a limited range and declining habitat (it is

becoming increasingly restricted to the islands

mountains).y Increase mining activity for chromine and other

minerals and metal ores.

y Large numbers being hunted for food and trapped

for live trade to zoos and aviculture enthusiasts.y Hunted for its feathers.


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Conservation Efforts Underway

y Aconservation initiative proposed by The World Conservation Union,Birdlife International, and the Species Survival Commission recommendsthat people should conduct surveys to identify suitable habitat, particularlyin the south part of the island.

y If suitable sites are found, they should be proposed for protection status.y Hunting and bird trade should be controlled more effectively.y Another way to preserve the species is to carefully manage the captive

population to minimize loss of genetic diversity.y The entire island was officially made a game reserve in 1983, in which

hunting became illegal, but hunting laws are difficult to enforce effectively.This pheasant also occurs in two protected areas on the island, El Nido

Marine Reserve and St Paul's Subterranean River National Park.y Recently, commercial logging activities on the island were suspended by

presidential decree, but nearly all the forest land is still leased out tologging operations, and illegal logging evidently continues.


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Conservation Efforts Proposed

y Allocate greater resources towards more effective controlof hunting in Palawan forests and initiate conservationawareness campaigns amongst forest product collectors.

y Continue sur

veys to assess distribution, status andhabitat requirements in remaining lowland forests and

secondary habitats, particularly south of Brooke's Point,on the slopes of Mt Victoria and in remaining forests inthe north.

y Formally protect forests at Iwahig.

y Support the proposed extension of Puerto PrincesaSubterranean River National Park.


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WHAT YOU CAN DO!


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What you can do:

y Educate yourselves and be aware

y Spread the word

y Dont support illegal trade of endangered animals

y Join a conservation organization

y Recycle forest products


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palawan peacock pheasant

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