 PHOTO: JEAN HOWMAN |
PHOTO: JEAN HOWMAN |
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In 1975 the only Blyth's Tragopans in captivity were at the small Kohima Zoo in Nagaland, northeast India. Two pairs of the nominate race T. b. blythi were sent to the U.K. in 1983 and one of these plus two young were sent in 1985 to the Howe brothers in Canada. By 1991 around forty were held in captivity and are recorded in an official IUZDG studbook run by the World Pheasant Association.
The principal difference between this bird and the Temninck's Tragopan which borders onto its territory is the dramatic golden-yellow facial coloring. The chest feathering, too, is very much greyer. The small genetic base of the present captive stock is an obvious cause for concern and it is hoped that the government of Nagaland may be able to provide some additional birds to mix in with the present captive birds. The initial stock bred well and chicks were raised with few problems. However, although breeding has been comparatively successful, Glen Howe considers them to be more prone to disease, and in particular diseases caused by stress, than the other tragopan species he has handled. There is a subspecies, the Molesworth's Tragopan T. b. molesworthi of which an even smaller number exist in captivity. |
| Avicultural Notes | |
| Minimum aviary size | 600 sq. ft. (56 m2) with grass base |
| Status in captivity | See above-rare |
| Full adult plumage | Second year |
| Egg clutch size | 2 - 4 eggs |
| Incubation Period | 28 - 30 days |
| Feeding Habits | Primarily vegetarian with emphasis on fruit and berries |