| Autor: |
Jameel MA; PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Department of Zoology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Khan MF; Hazara University Mansehra, Department of Zoology, Mansehra, Pakistan., Awan MN; International Union for Conservation of Nature, Islamabad, Pakistan., Nadeem MS; PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Department of Zoology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Aslam S; PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Department of Zoology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Mehmood S; University of the Punjab Lahore, Department of Zoology, Lahore, Pakistan., Ahmad D; COMSAT University, Department of Environmental Sciences, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan., Wali R; PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Botany Department, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Rehman Q; PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Department of Zoology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Khan MA; Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Botany Department, Charsadda, Pakistan., Mahmood T; PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Department of Zoology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. |
| Abstrakt: |
Pheasants are declining everywhere in the world and therefore updated information about their population and habitats are important for conservation and management. The present study was conducted in the Palas Valley, District Kohistan, Pakistan in late spring (May and June) 2020 and early spring (March and April) 2021 to assess the population and anthropogenic stress. The major focus was on three sympatric pheasant species, including Western Horned Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), and Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha). We used the "Call Count Method" for the population assessment in the field, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to document the risk assessment of local residents of the valley. The population assessments revealed that the Koklass Pheasant is more adapted to increasing anthropogenic activities and its population appeared more or less similar as 22 years ago. In the past 22 years, Western Tragopan and Himalayan Monal have lost about 40-50% of their populations. Human interference in the form of illegal hunting, deforestation, and overgrazing was found to be common in the valley. The study concludes that the Palas Valley habitat is ideal for pheasant species; however, human interference in the form of urbanization, habitat fragmentation, illegal hunting, and deforestation is occurring at a rapid pace, causing havoc in the pheasant population. |
