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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Est. World Population: | 0-49 |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Critically Endangered |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
L. edwardsi is confined to 'exceedingly damp' evergreen lowland forest below 300 m, characterised by year-round high humidity, high rainfall and a thick understory rich in lianas (N. Brickle in litt. 2004).
Range:
Lophura edwardsi is endemic to central Viet Nam. Known historically from four provinces (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue), it was formerly described as locally fairly common. Individuals were recorded near to the Phong My Commune, Thua Thien Hue, and also near the Huong Hiep Commune, Quang Tri (Le Trong Trai et al. 1999). Several other individuals were found in the Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue Provinces, but the last confirmed recent record was in 2000, where one male was confiscated from a hunter and held in captivity in the Hai Lang District Forest Protection Department, Quang Tri. It has been suggested that the species may have historically occurred in Lao PDR, but this remains unconfirmed and if it was once present, it is now almost certainly extinct given hunting pressure, which is even more acute in Lao PDR than Viet Nam (Timmins et al. 2024).
Conservation:
Conservation Actions Underway
Listed in CITES Appendix I. An Action Plan was published for this species in 2015 (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015).
Surveys for the species were conducted on foot in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2002 and 2004 (Eames et al. 1988; Robson et al. 1991; Eames et al. 1992; Eames et al. 1994; Le Manh Hung et al. 2002; Le Manh Hung et al. 2004). From 2005 to 2023, extensive camera trap surveys were carried out across Viet Nam by a number of organisations including VietNature, WWF and Re:wild (R. Dams and Le Trong Trai in litt. 2023, Nguyen Quang Hoa Anh in litt. 2023, A. Tilker in litt. 2023). In that time, it is estimated that there have been at least 500,000 camera trap nights of surveys within the potential range of L. edwardsi. The localities from which the most recent records derive have been incorporated into the Phong Dien, Dakrong and Ke Go protected areas, for which management feasibility studies have been completed (Le Trong Trai 1999). Bac Huong Hoa. Khe Net and Khe Nuoc Truong have also been proposed as protected areas (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015). Site Support Groups have been established for Dakrong IBA and Bac Huong Hoa IBA.
In December 2003, the captive population numbered 1,033 individuals (A. Hennache in litt. 2004) and in December 2023 it was estimated to be close to 1,400 birds (R. Dams in litt. 2023). A project investigating the feasibility of reintroductions is underway with aviaries under construction to facilitate the programme. The maternal line has been screened and hybrids purged from the captive stock (A. Hennache in litt. 2004). Poster distribution and community interviews have occurred since 2014 around Trurong Son, but there has been little information gained from these about the persistence of the species in this location.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Use remote sensing to classify forest according to humidity in order to identify potentially suitable areas for the species within the remaining forest matrix (Eames and Mahood 2017). Conduct further surveys of remaining forest fragments within and to the north of its historical range using camera trapping and specially trained dogs (Eames and Mahood 2017), particularly at areas identified through modelling approaches (e.g. Grainger et al. 2017), to clarify the species status and ecological requirements. Establish the proposed Phong Dien and Dakrong Nature Reserves, encourage the protection of other key sites for the species (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015) and enhance Site Support Groups. Promote careful management of captive Vietnamese Lophura pheasants through the ISB system, and regularly review ex-situ measures until their taxonomic relationships are clarified. If appropriate, utilise the captive population to prepare suitable individuals for reintroduction (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015, R. Dams in litt. 2023). Prepare a landscape level management plan to redress genetic problems caused by habitat fragmentation and establish effective habitat protection. Assess the level and impact of hunting and campaign for its control, starting with complete cessation in protected areas holding the species. Conduct research to establish the feasibility and effects of using forest corridors to connect forest fragments.
Listed in CITES Appendix I. An Action Plan was published for this species in 2015 (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015).
Surveys for the species were conducted on foot in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2002 and 2004 (Eames et al. 1988; Robson et al. 1991; Eames et al. 1992; Eames et al. 1994; Le Manh Hung et al. 2002; Le Manh Hung et al. 2004). From 2005 to 2023, extensive camera trap surveys were carried out across Viet Nam by a number of organisations including VietNature, WWF and Re:wild (R. Dams and Le Trong Trai in litt. 2023, Nguyen Quang Hoa Anh in litt. 2023, A. Tilker in litt. 2023). In that time, it is estimated that there have been at least 500,000 camera trap nights of surveys within the potential range of L. edwardsi. The localities from which the most recent records derive have been incorporated into the Phong Dien, Dakrong and Ke Go protected areas, for which management feasibility studies have been completed (Le Trong Trai 1999). Bac Huong Hoa. Khe Net and Khe Nuoc Truong have also been proposed as protected areas (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015). Site Support Groups have been established for Dakrong IBA and Bac Huong Hoa IBA.
In December 2003, the captive population numbered 1,033 individuals (A. Hennache in litt. 2004) and in December 2023 it was estimated to be close to 1,400 birds (R. Dams in litt. 2023). A project investigating the feasibility of reintroductions is underway with aviaries under construction to facilitate the programme. The maternal line has been screened and hybrids purged from the captive stock (A. Hennache in litt. 2004). Poster distribution and community interviews have occurred since 2014 around Trurong Son, but there has been little information gained from these about the persistence of the species in this location.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Use remote sensing to classify forest according to humidity in order to identify potentially suitable areas for the species within the remaining forest matrix (Eames and Mahood 2017). Conduct further surveys of remaining forest fragments within and to the north of its historical range using camera trapping and specially trained dogs (Eames and Mahood 2017), particularly at areas identified through modelling approaches (e.g. Grainger et al. 2017), to clarify the species status and ecological requirements. Establish the proposed Phong Dien and Dakrong Nature Reserves, encourage the protection of other key sites for the species (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015) and enhance Site Support Groups. Promote careful management of captive Vietnamese Lophura pheasants through the ISB system, and regularly review ex-situ measures until their taxonomic relationships are clarified. If appropriate, utilise the captive population to prepare suitable individuals for reintroduction (Pham Tuan Anh and Le Trong Trai 2015, R. Dams in litt. 2023). Prepare a landscape level management plan to redress genetic problems caused by habitat fragmentation and establish effective habitat protection. Assess the level and impact of hunting and campaign for its control, starting with complete cessation in protected areas holding the species. Conduct research to establish the feasibility and effects of using forest corridors to connect forest fragments.