Current Zoology(formerly Acta Zoologica Sinica),   Feb. 2004, 50(1): 126 - 132
Title: Reintroduction of brown eared-pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum in Wutaishan Mountains of Shanxi, China
Authors: ZHANG Guo-Gang, ZHENG Guang-Mei*, ZHANG Zheng-Wang
 M i n i s t r y   o f   E d u c a t i o n   K e y   L a b o r a t o r y   f o r   B i o d i v e r s i t y   S c i e n c e s   a n d   E c o l o g i c a l   E n g i n e e r i n g ,   C o l l e g e   o f   L i f e   S c i e n c e s ,   B e i j i n g   N o r m a l   U n i v e r s i t y ,   B e i j i n g   1 0 0 8 7 5 ,   C h i n a 
Abstract:

Brown eared-pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum is endemic to China, and mainly occurs in Luliang Mountains of Shanxi, Xiaowutai of Hebei and Huanglong of Shaanxi. Reintroduction of Brown Eared Pheasant was carried out from April to December in 2000. According to the criterions of release site selection in Guidelines for Reintroductions of IUCN, and habitat selection of Brown Eared Pheasant, Kuantan forestry in Wutaishan Mountains of Shanxi Province was selected as the release site. Of the 8 released individuals, 5 wild individuals were captured in winter in Luyashan Nature Reserve of Shanxi Province, and 3 were offsprings of captive-reared  individuals. Transmitters were attached when the 8 individuals were released. Overall, 6 individuals survived for at least 1 month, and the longest time for survival was 155 days, except that one was confirmed as having been killed by a raptor on the second day and one was lost on the eighth day after release. All moved away from the release site after release and established stable home ranges in different sites after 10 days, respectively. In early May, the individuals again dispersed to establish new  home ranges. The wandering distance and days of the captive individuals were longer and the home range size were larger than that of the wild birds, which resulted from the weak adaptability to new habitat for the captive individuals, such as recognizing and fetching food. For wild individuals, the second wandering distance was longer than the first. We believe the difference was related to looking for partners. After wandering, individuals established stable home ranges in different sites [Acta Zoologica Sinica 50 (1):  126 - 132, 2004].


Keywords: Brown eared-pheasant, Crossoptilon mantchuricum, Reintroduction, Home range, Radio-tracking, Wutaishan

*Correspondence should be addressed to ZHENG Guang-Mei (E-mail:zhenggm@bnu.edu.cn).

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