Shimla: Encouraged by the success rate of the Rs 4 crore conservation breeding program of Western Tragopan at the Sarahan pheasantry, forest minister JP Nadda out on a field visit said that seven more enclosures were being constructed with and outlay of Rs 1.2 crore.
Commending the wild life experts Nadda said that Himachal had achieved a rare breakthrough in 1990 by successfully breeding the highly endangered pheasant, Western Tragopan in captivity.
The minister expressed satisfaction over successful captive breeding of the state bird.
Out of 24 eggs laid by Western Tragopan this season, the first chick from the lot is already born and more are likely to follow in the weeks ahead as hatching is in progress.
Later the minister visited Sangla valley where he reviewed implementation of the catchment area treatment plan for Baspa river upto Chitkul village.
Senior officers of forest department accompanied the minister.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
Dear Mr. Ravinder Makhaik,
Thank you very much for your comments on the captive breeding of Western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) at Sarahan, Himachal, Indian.
I am glad to read that you mentioned my name and my contribution to the current succes with this unique tragopan in your country.
You will be glad to know that we trained Dr. Sushil Sood, vetofficer at Sarahan, in 2007 in Belgium learning artificial insemination and other skills to improve the breeding results for Western tragopan at Sarahan hill station. Double click “website” and you will find an extensive article on the subject matter, which was written by Dr. Sushil Sood, dealing with his experiences breeding tragopans in Himachal and learning AI in tragopans in Belgium.
Don’t hesitate to revert back to me, if you have any further queries.
All teh best,
Francy Hermans, Tragopan Pheasantry at http://www.tragopan.be