Recent news from Yunnan

 At the start of the 20th century, Green Peafowl were widespread through the province and its neighbouring provinces, but is now restricted to small fragmented areas such as Dali, Shuangbai Konglonghe. Xishuangbanna in Southern Yunnan was once famous for Peafowl, but sadly wild Green Peafowl have become extinct and feral Indian Peafowl and hybrids roam some areas. The problem of hybridization is often overlooked as people fail to differentiate between Green and Indian Peafowl, partly because in Chinese both species' common name describes their colours (Green and Blue Peafowl), but the female Indian Peafowl has a green neck. They are rarely photographed in the wild because they are rare and found in more remote areas.

A map of Yunnan.
Source: TravelChinaGuide.com

Over the last week, Green Peafowl have made headlines in China. In a recent article, some experts expressed fear that the Green Peafowl will become extinct in Yunnan within the next 10 years, citing a significant decrease in records within the past hundred years.


There is however, some hope. In April 2014, a group of researchers filmed wild Green Peafowl in Pu'Er, Southern Yunnan.  Green Peafowl had been reported by locals before, but it took 20 years for the Forestry Bureau to confirm their presence here. Although it appears only one male was filmed by the infrared camera traps, Zhou Zhi Tao of the Pu'Er city Wildlife Conservation and Reserve Management head estimated there to be 10 to 15 individuals here. Locals have heard their calls and have also reported seeing a family of Green Peafowl with three chicks.

A Green Peafowl caught by camera-trap in Pu'Er, Yunnan, China

Take a note the broadleaf-evergreen forest this bird inhabits.

Source: Pu'Er Forestry Bureau

The following is an article from CCTV:

A wild green peafowl was captured on camera foraging in the city of Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province, in April, according to the city's Forestry Bureau.

This is China's first ever video footage of wild green peafowl, according to Zhou Zhitao, head of the department managing wildlife protection and nature reserve under Pu'er Forestry Bureau.

"There are wild green peafowls in China, but it is the first time that we have gotten video footage of it in Pu'er. It is also China's first video footage of the species," said Zhou.

The bureau decided to step up monitoring and protection of the species, which had disappeared in the wild for almost 20 years.

"The camera footage of the green peafowl is a breakthrough for the study of the species. At least we know that out there the green peafowl does exist. The footage will provide information for how to protect and monitor the species, establish protection zone, and restore habitats," said Zhou Zhitao.

The green peafowl has been listed among the animals under the first-class state protection in China.

Watch the video here: newscontent.cctv.com/NewJsp/news.jsp?fileId=245495

Another news report with the same footage: http://v.yntv.cn/content/117/201406/16/117_921377.shtml

Sidenote

The Xishuangbanna annamensis morphotype.

Under the current classification, all Green Peafowl are classified as Pavo muticus imperator, but following a proposed revision in classification the Southern Yunnan form has been described as the (sub)species "Pavo (muticus) annamensis." This is by no means a definite classification as research is ongoing, but these birds of Southern Yunnan, and similar birds in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, Lao's Bolaven Plateau and Vietnam's Annamite Range, appear to inhabit broadleaf evergreen forests at an altitude of about 2000 feet. These recent images only seem to confirm this.

In the montane forests of Northwestern Yunnan lives another type of Green Peafowl, even more distinct. Known around some circles as Pavo antiqus, it is the largest living Peafowl species and may be a direct descendant of the Pliocene fossil species Pavo bravardi. Elusive in the wild, a small population has been filmed in Qinghua, Weishan, Dali prefecture in the past few years, including an unusual peahen with white feathers on her wings.  This morphotype is maintained by some breeding stations, notably at the Kunming Zoo, but it is difficult to establish the origins of captive birds; some may be hybrids.

A Chinese study on the divergence between Green Peafowl and Indian Peafowl also seems to support there are multiple distinct forms of Green Peafowl in Yunnan. The Kunming Zoological Institute has been extensively studying Green Peafowl and their conservation, but much of the research with respect to systematics has not been published.

This is something I will discuss later, but below is a photograph of this Northwestern Yunnan Peafowl.

This photograph was taken in Wanding, Yunnan, bordering Burma, in 2012. This is an enigmatic morphotype of the Northwest is sometimes described as Pavo antiqus, but has not yet been formally been described.

The Future

The future is uneasy for Green Peafowl in Yunnan. Unlike Thailand and Vietnam, where populations are rather secure and protected (and extensively photographed), a lot more work needs to be done in China to validate the presence of Green Peafowl in various areas of Yunnan. Another problem is that although they are protected by law, people fail to differentiate between Green and Indian Peafowl, leading to feral Indian Peafowl and hybrids being released in some areas.

Here are several conservation measures that I propose:
1. Educate the locals to avoid conflicts with the Green Peafowl.
2. Educate the public so that they can distinguish between Green Peafowl and Indian Peafowl as well as hybrids.
3. Enforce stricter wildlife laws to regulate the trade of domestic Indian Peafowl and prevent their release in areas with Green Peafowl.
4. DNA testing of Peafowl of unknown origins to determine whether they are hybrids. Hybrids should not be put to waste but rather bred to a similar hybrid, to establish an "heirloom stock".
5. Establish whether various populations of Green Peafowl in Yunnan belong to different (sub)species. If multiple forms can be identified, they should be split to increase their conservation.
6. Following this classification, establish a studbook for captive birds.

I hope the recent news from Yunnan will spark public awareness of these fascinating creatures, and encourage conservationists and researchers to continue with their efforts.

Sources:

1. CCTV, "Critically endangered wild green peafowl filmed in SW China forest"
2. News Report from YNTV
3. Report from Yunnan.cn: http://yn.yunnan.cn/html/2014-06/20/content_3254637.htm
4.  Ouyang, Yi Na (2008). "Genetic Divergence between Pavo muticus and Pavo cristatus by Cyt b Gene". Journal of Yunnan Agricultural University.