Summary of Cheer populations in Himachal Pradesh
Sat Pal Dhiman, HPFS
Nodal Officer, HP Pheasant Conservation Breeding Programme
office of Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-171001
Email: satpaldhiman@yahoo.com
Contact: 00 91 94184 82792 (Mobile)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Cheer populations had been estimated about 1000 pairs in Himachal Pradesh as an
outcome of result of surveys carried out in 1979 and 1980 under Himachal Wildlife Project lead
by a team comprising A.J. Gaston, P.J. Garson and M.L Hunter. The populations had been
reported in patchy distribution in four major river catchments viz. Sutlej, Beas, Yamuna and
Ravi catchments. I have attempted to briefly summarize the outcome of results of these surveys
and also presented an account of current information on presence of this species in these sites
on the basis of sightings and calls heard by individuals. Some new sites have also been
reported.
The prominent sites reported to harbour Cheer in Sutlej catchment had been Majathal, Bandli,
Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kaksthal, Seri. Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) was
reported to have had the highest population density of Cheer Pheasants at 24 pairs per Km 2
(Garson, 1983). Survey of Cheer in Majathal by a team of Wildlife Wing during 2008 and 2009
revealed population density of about 4 to 5 pairs per Km2 which was comparatively very low. It
seems that population was over estimated previously. Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary is the most
important habitat for this species in the State. Recently during June, 2013, the boundaries of
many Protected Areas including Majathal WLS have been re-defined under rationalization
process of boundaries of Protected Areas in Himachal and an area of 8.53 Km 2 has been
excluded from this Sanctuary. It implies that this area now cease to be under Protected Area
Network and shall be opened to development activities like road construction etc. to provide
connectivity to the villages in this area. Though these excluded areas are degraded due to
human use yet about > 40% of these areas are potential Cheer habitats. This compromise has
been made to meet the demands of the local populace which have been residing inside the
Sanctuary and were deprived of basic facilities due to restricted development imposed by
Wildlife Laws. The forest area (ca. 17 km2) located northwest and contiguous to Majathal WLS
also include the potential habitat range of cheer but the attempts made by the department to
include it into the Majathal WLS did not yield any result mainly due to the rights of the local
people over some of these areas and development projects already underway. The major
threat to this Cheer population is due to the establishment of two big Cement Plants and their
activities like mining etc. in the vicinity towards Northwest and Southwest. Apparently the
population is isolated and its dispersal to nearest potential habitats has been restricted.
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The local wildlife staff confirmed that Cheer is present in Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary as they
occasionally sighted individuals and also heard calls during spring season. The presence of
Cheer is also confirmed in Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary. Multiple calls were heard from three
locations during field surveys by Wildlife staff in 2011 (B S Rana, IFS, Pers. comm.). Current
information on presence of Cheer in sites namely Kaksthal and Seri is not available.
During an expedition to a place named Kingnidhar (Elevation 2900 m) by a Wildlife Wing team
on 5 April, 2011 near village Sarahan of Shimla district, two Cheer Pheasants were sighted and
multiple calls were heard in early hours. The habitat range area is just about 1 Km 2 and would
have at least 2 to 3 breeding pairs with some more individuals. The other site named Kinoo
located towards northwest of Daranghati WLS having habitat range area about 2 to 3 Km2 also
have small Cheer population. Cheer Pheasants have been sighted and calls have been heard on
numerous occasions and would have at least 8 to 10 breeding pairs (R.Laxminarasimha and
Vinod Kumar pers. comm.). These two sites outside the Protected Area Network in Sutlej river
catchment area almost certainly have not been reported earlier.
The sites reported in upper Beas River Catchment area are Hamta Nalla, Sainj & Tirthan
Catchments and Lam Dubh (Manalsu Nalla), kasol (Garahan Nalla) and Parashar Temple
(south facing slopes near the Temple). Hamta Nalla population had been reported no more
than 10 pairs. At least two birds each had been reported from Lam Dubh (Manalsu Nalla), kasol
(Garahan Nalla) and Parashar Temple (south facing slopes near the Temple). No recent
evidence of presence of Cheer is found in Lam Dubh and kasol (B.S. Rana, pers. comm.). Current
information on presence of Cheer in Hamta Nalla and Parashar Temple is not available. Sainj &
Tirthan Catchments and Jiwanal which are part of Great Himalayan National Park Conservation
Area (GHNPCA) support potential Cheer habitat. The population of Cheer in its potential habitat
in these areas appear to be intact ( Jolly, V. et al., 2012).
The sites reported to occupy Cheer in upper Yamuna Catchment area had been Chail Wildlife
Sanctuary, Kandaghat, Kyari Bangla, Shogi, Thund, Moi Jubbal, Bhasa, Janaur. Chail was
estimated to hold about 40 pairs of Cheer in April, 1979, with a density on suitable habitat of
about six pairs/Km2 (Gaston & Joginder Singh, 1980). Some potential Cheer habitat areas both
Govt. owned and private land holdings have been excluded from the Chail WLS and its
boundaries have been re-defined under rationalization process of boundaries of Protected
Areas in Himachal as done in case of Majathal WLS. They were also reported to occur near
Shimla-Chandigarh highway in places namely Kandaghat, Kyari Bangla, Shogi and Bhasa. Chail
Wildlife Sanctuary still holds Cheer population but current population estimates are not
available. I along with Sanjeeva Pandey did few tracks together to areas viz. Kandaghat, Kyari
Bangla, Shogi( Taradevi Area) in early hours during 2011 spring season but we did not find any
evidence of their presence. A small population is existing in Bhasa area but the population
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appear to be vanished in Thund and Moi Jubbal (G S Verma, Retd. Divisional Forest Officer, pers.
comm.). Current information on presence of Cheer in Janaur is not available.
Cheer had also been reported to occur in Ravi Catchment Areas and sites recorded were
Khajjiar Kalatop WLS, Sara, Siul Valley, Nadar(Bandal) and Budhal Nalla. Atleast two birds
each from Khajjiar Kalatop WLS and Sara had been heard calling during surveys in November
1978 and January 1979. There had also been reports of sightings in adjacent areas outside
Khajjiar Kalatop WLS. Cheer had been found in several places in Siul Valley. A small population
was located in Nadar (Bandal) and at least six pairs had been reported. The population in
Budhal Nalla had been estimated to as many as 50 pairs. The latest sighting of a Cheer pair is
reported on 11 May, 2011 from forest named Deul DPF, Dalhausie Forest Range located near
NHPC view point on Chamba Road and this pair was photographed. This site is adjacent to
Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary and local forest staff has heard few more birds calling in
nearby locations. Local forest staff also confirmed the presence of Cheer in few locations in
Swai Forest Range of Bharmaur Forest Division and also in Siul Valley (Kuldeep Jamwal, Range
Forest Officer, per. Comm.). Nothing can be commented on current status of presence of Cheer
in Nadar(Bandal) and Budhal Nalla due to lack of reliable information though these had been
potential Cheer areas.
There are certain issues concerning the species which have conservation implication and must
be properly understood.
→ Cheer has skulking behavior and very difficult to detect in grasses. Cheer occupies small
patches of suitable habitats and populations are scattered in small numbers and isolated. It is
not possible to estimate the populations with accuracy and precision.
→ Intensive state wide surveys in its distribution range have not been conducted for last so
many years to know its presence and population status. So is probably true for rest of its
natural distribution range in other Indian States and Countries.
→ Most of Cheer populations are located outside the Protected Areas and receive little
attention for their conservation.
→ As already said before, recently in June, 2013 the boundaries of many Protected Areas have
been re-defined under rationalization process to exclude the villages and some important Cheer
habitats near human habitations have been excluded from the Protected Area Network. Some
of these important Sanctuaries are Majathal, Chail and Kalatop khajjiar. It implies that these
excluded suitable Cheer habitats now cease to be under Protected Area Network and shall be
opened to development activities.
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→ Hydel Electric Projects (HEPs) have been planned in almost all major rivers and their
tributaries. The information available with Himachal Pradesh State Compensatory Afforestation
Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which deals with Catchment Area
Treatment Plans of river basins where these projects are located/under process reveal that a
total of 125 HEPs in the major river basins include 43 HEPs (9770.50 MW) in Satluj river basin,
45 HEPs (4747.60 MW) in Beas river basin, 26 HEPs (2372.40 MW) in Ravi river basin and 11
HEPs (608.52 MW) in Yamuna river basin. Apart from these there are many other development
activities like roads, buildings etc. These are major threats to the species which may trigger its
local extermination.
Up-listing of the Species from vulnerable to endangered category shall surely be a step
forward for backing and conservation action for long-term survival of the Species.
I must report that a Conservation Breeding Programme has already been initiated in Himachal
Pradesh at Chail Pheasantries with the support of Central Zoo Authority of India. Current
captive Cheer population in various facilities of the State is 121. Out of this, a population of 54
adults is being managed under Conservation Breeding Programme in Chail Pheasantires
(Khariun & Blossom). During 2013 breeding season 32 chicks are hatched naturally by mother
hens in Chail Pheasantries and now the current population under this breeding programme is
86. It is aimed to build a Safety Net Population of behaviorally competent and genetically
robust individuals of this species as a future insurance.
References
Gaston, A. J. (1980) The Himalayas: a summary of current knowledge of the status of
pheasants. Pp.33–35 in C. Savage, ed., Pheasants in Asia 1979. Exning, UK: World Pheasant
Association.
Gaston, A. J. and Singh, J. (1980). The status of the Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi in the Chail
wildlife sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh. World Pheasant Association J. 5: 68–73.
Gaston, A. J., Hunter, M. L. and Garson, P. J. (1981). The wildlife of Himachal Pradesh,
western Himalayas. Orono, U. S. A.: School of Forest Resources, University of Maine (Report
of the Himachal Wildlife Project. Technical Notes no.82.)
I.A. No. 139 and 155 in Writ Petition (Civil) No.337/1995 (2010) in the Hon`ble Supreme Court
of India. Rationalization of boundaries of Protected Areas in Himachal Pradesh.
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Jolli, V., A. Srivastav, and S. Thakur (2011). Patch occupancy for cheer pheasant Catreus wallichii
in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area. International Journal of
Galliformes Conservation 2: 74–81.
Jamwal, K. (2013). Personal communication. Range Forest Officer, Swai Forest Range,
Bharmour Forest Division, District Chamba, HP.
Laxminarasimha, R. (2013). Personal communication. Research Fellow, Wildlife Institute of
India, Dehardun.
Negi, S.S. (2013). Information on Comprehensive Catchment Area Treatment Plans in Himachal
Pradesh. Unpublished report.
Rana, B. S. (2013). Personal communication. Conservator of Forests, Research, Sundernagar
Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, District Mandi, HP.
Kumar, V.(2013). Personal communication. Wildlife Guard Incharge Kinoo Beat, Wildlife Division
Sarahan, District Shimla, HP.
Verma, G.S. (2013). Personal communication. Divisional Forest Officer (Retd.), Resident of
Village Koti, Tehsil Junga, District Shimla, HP.
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