As agreed in the last annual meeting, the 2016 annual meeting of VN-EPWG took place in Bach Ma National Park (Thua Thien – Hue province) on May 6^th, co-organized and sponsored by the Park and Viet Nature Conservation Centre.

Representatives from all key sites and Forest Protection Department in Edwards’s Pheasant’s distribution range were present, enthusiastically sharing information about their efforts in search of this “mysterious” species in the wild during the past year and discussed actions to advance its conservation breeding programme.

Besides the continuous camera trapping surveys at Khe Nuoc Trong, Viet Nature has collaborated with site managers to carry surveys in Ke Go, Phong Dien, Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserves and Huong Hiep Commune, Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province. Over 1,600 camera trapping days were carried out in Ke Go Nature Reserve; and 1,300 days and 1,600 days in Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve and Huong Hiep Commune, Dakrong district (where the only male Edwards’s Pheasant from the wild was caught, then confiscated by Quang Tri FPD and transferred to Hanoi Zoo in 1997) respectively, covering 4-5 ha of potential habitats for Edward’s Pheasant in the survey sites. Sadly, no Edwards’s Pheasant was recorded. However, the survey results provided valuable up-to-date overview of wildlife status and threats at the surveyed sites. Therefore, all site managers are eager to contribute to and expand the camera trapping programme at their respective site in the coming year with the technical support (and equipment) from Viet Nature.

Other interesting findings of the above camera trapping surveys included the recording of White-winged Duck in Ke Go, Owston’s Civet in Phong Dien, and quite good population of primates (including the Red-shanked Douc Langur) and ungulates in Bac Huong Hoa. Summary of camera traps results (besides Khe Nuoc Trong) can be found at annex 1.

During 2015-2016, members of VN-EP working group also actively looked for suitable locations to set up conservation breeding stations to prepare for possible future reintroduction of the species. Ideal locations should have good access, network electricity, close to water sources, but not too close to inhabitant areas and domestic poultry. The group also aims to carry out a joint awareness and fundraising programme for the species to accelerate its conservation programme in expectation of coming Chicken Year (2017).

Regarding in-situ conservation of Edwards’s Pheasant, at the meeting Mr. Dang Gia Tung shared videos and photos of newly-hatched Edwards’s Pheasant at Hanoi Zoo. All participants congratulated him for the great news! To date, in this breeding season, two new descendants of the only wild male Edward’s Pheasant and about 6 other Vietnamese Pheasant were hatched at Hanoi Zoo./.

Annex1:

Summary of camera traps results (besides Khe Nuoc Trong):

SELECTED PHOTOS (all credited to Viet Nature Conservation Centre)

VN-EPWG annual meeting 2016 at the top of Bach Ma mount, Bach Ma NP, 6^th May 2016

Meeting of John Corder (WPA), Le Van Quy (Quang Tri FPD) and Dang Gia Tung (Hanoi Zoo) facilitated by Viet Nature

Viet Nature and Bac Huong Hoa staff visited a private pheasant breeder in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Visiting Phong Dien NR after the annual meeting at Bach Ma NP, May 2016

A newly hatched Edwards’s Pheasant at Hanoi Zoo, June 2016.

A feather from a White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata in Ke Go NR

Siamese Fireback in Ke Go NR

A Red shanked Douc group with babies in Bac Huong Hoa NR adjacent to Huong Hiep Commune

Owston’s Civet Chrotogale owstoni at Phong Dien NR

Crested Argus at Phong Dien NR

Annamite Muntjac in Phong Dien NR