The IUCN Red List calls for urgent protection of this species as it is at a high risk of complete extinction in the wild.
The animal classified as CR – Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2021 is the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant (scientific name: Rheinardia ocellata).
Image of the male Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant. (Source: Fletcher & Baylis/Arkive).
According to the IUCN Red List, the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant is only found in two countries worldwide: Vietnam and Laos. This species is primarily located along the Annamite Range which divides Laos and Vietnam, as well as in other mountain ranges in central and southern Vietnam, and the humid evergreen forests in the highlands of Laos.
Due to the extremely high risk of this species becoming completely extinct in the wild in the near future, the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant is regarded as a “treasure” of the Annamite Range in particular and the world in general. The Annamite Range, rising over 2,700 meters, is one of the largest mountain ranges in the world and the longest mountain range in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant has a beautiful and graceful appearance. This species belongs to a genus of large birds similar to peacocks in the pheasant family, characterized by generally black and dark brown plumage with star-like spots, a deep pink bill, brown irises, and green skin around the eyes.
Males stand 190-239 cm tall, while females are smaller, measuring 74-75 cm. Mature males are distinguished by their massive tail made up of 12 feathers, with the central tail feather being five times longer than the outermost pair. In contrast, females are smaller with shorter tails. The male has an unmistakable appearance, with a long white crest that can puff out, while the female has a distinct head pattern (darker and duller than the male, with a shorter crest) and is striped on the upper body.
In addition to their calls, male Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasants often use their large feathers to impress females during the breeding season.
Image of the male Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant. (Photo: Francesc Jutglar/Birdsoftheworld).
Image of the female Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant. (Photo: Francesc Jutglar/Birdsoftheworld).
This species is omnivorous. Their diet consists of various leaves, berries, larvae, amphibians, other insects, and small frogs.
The Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant inhabits primary and secondary evergreen forests from sea level up to 1,500 meters, and from 1,700 to 1,900 meters on the Dalat Plateau. The highest density is found in moist primary forests at around 900 meters.
The IUCN Red List does not provide a specific population count in the wild; however, it emphasizes that, although the habitat range is still large, there is strong suspicion that the population has significantly declined and continues to decline rapidly. Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province is known as a location where this species was common, but it appears to have completely disappeared from the wild over the past decade.
Two Major Threats to the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant
According to international experts, the most serious threat to the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant stems from high levels of poaching, primarily through trapping. This species is hunted mainly for its meat but also kept as a pet.
Especially in lowland forests across Vietnam and Laos, the incidence of trapping has increased significantly since the early 2000s. The latest wave of “industrial-level” traps has occurred throughout the forest areas of central Vietnam and Laos.
Image of the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant taken from a camera trap. (Photo: Paul Sweet/Birdsoftheworld).
Currently, areas in the southern Annamite Range are believed to be suffering from this wave of traps, which may be where the most rapid decline is occurring. Previously, the southern Annamite Range was considered the last area that had not been affected by this trapping wave.
No effective measures have been implemented to reduce the level of trapping within the species’ distribution range, so the potential for population decline is likely to continue.
The second threat comes from habitat loss, due to recent deforestation driven by increased hunting. Experts analyze that the rate of forest cover loss has increased during the period from 2003 to 2020. If this rate continues, between 2016 and 2033, the total area of forest loss within the species’ range will be 21.4%.
Since being first described in the early 20th century and despite being considered relatively abundant until a few decades ago, this peafowl species has now become very rare throughout its distribution area, and their populations seem to be declining almost inevitably. Because of this, the Vietnamese Peacock-Pheasant has become extremely hard to find.
To avert the risk of complete extinction in the wild, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommends conservation actions to preserve biodiversity in Southeast Asia in general and globally, including: Strictly enforcing hunting regulations in protected areas; Collaborating with local-targeted conservation awareness initiatives; Surveying suitable habitats in Laos and Vietnam to clarify current distribution and assess the species’ abundance.
