The Edwards’ pheasant is now only located in one area of the world: the rainforests of Vietnam.
It has a varied diet of insects, fruit and spiders.
Interesting facts!
- Males of this species have a black–blue plumage with a white crest, while females have a brown plumage.
- This bird is name after French ornithologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards, who first described the species in only 1896.
- After mating, females lay 4–7 eggs which hatch after around 25 days. The eggs are looked after by both parents.
Conservation
The Edwards’ pheasant has not been seen in the wild since 2000 and, although its official status is Critically Endangered, scientists fear that it may have already become Extinct in the Wild.
Thankfully, there are several zoos that have many years’ experience in keeping and breeding Edwards’ pheasants and, although its status in the wild may be uncertain, it has a healthy captive population. Wild Planet Trust is working to ensure that wild Edwards’ pheasants are not a thing of the past. Alongside the pheasants that we keep and breed at Paignton Zoo, our staff are working alongside colleagues in Vietnam to establish captive breeding centres in areas of their former range in the hope that animals may be reintroduced once their habitat is secure.