Evaluation of Mortality Rate of Three Captive Pheasant Species at Dhodial Pheasantry, Mansehra, Pakistan

The present study was aimed to evaluate the mortality rate of three captive pheasant species, viz. Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus, Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii and Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos at Dhodial Pheasantry, Mansehra, Pakistan. Four years (2011–2014) retrospective data about mortality and survival rates of these three pheasant species were obtained from the Dhodial Pheasantry and were statistically analyzed. The overall mortality rate of the adult Himalayan Monal, Kalij and Cheer Pheasants were found to be 75.6%, 62.6% and 37.4%, respectively. The results showed statistically significant difference in mortality rates (P<0.01) of these three captive pheasant species (P<0.05). The year-wise mortality rates of the Himalayan Monal and Kalij Pheasant showed significantly higher difference (P<0.05), however, the mortality rate of the Cheer Pheasant remained consistent across the four years of the study period.