BRING BACK BLUE: EXTINCT PHEASANTS HEADING FROM EUROPE TO VIETNAM

Edwards’ pheasants, who have not been seen in the wild since 2000, are returning to their original homeland. Ten pairs will be transported to Vietnam this week by the Berlin Zoo, with three of the twenty animals coming directly from the Prague Zoo. The transport under the slogan Bring Back Blue is the result of decades of international efforts in which Prague Zoo plays a key role: it coordinates the European Breeding Program (EEP) and also manages the European studbook of Edwards’ pheasants. This native endemic of the forests of central Vietnam, it has been breeding continuously since the 1940s and has raised almost two hundred chicks. It has also financed the construction of a breeding center in Vietnam, where the birds from Europe will now go.

The initiative is supported by a wide network of partners who bring together expertise in breeding management, veterinary medicine, habitat protection and long-term monitoring. The European Breeding Programme (EEP) led by Prague Zoo plays a key role in this collaboration, ensuring the long-term viability of the population. “Coordinated management of the European population was essential in preparing for this moment,” says Veronika Zahradníčková, EEP coordinator for Edwards’ pheasant at Prague Zoo. “Thanks to careful and long-term breeding planning based on genetics, we have been able to maintain a healthy and viable population. The provision of individuals from the breeding programme to this project is a significant milestone in the return of Edwards’ pheasant to its natural habitat.”

From Extinction to Rescue

Central Vietnam has been without one of its most remarkable residents for over two decades. Originally native to the dense, humid lowland forests of the region, the Edwards’ Pheasant has not been reliably recorded in the wild for decades. It was last seen in March 2000. It is currently listed as “Critically Endangered (Probably Extinct in the Wild)” on the IUCN Red List.

The decline of this burrowing bird, whose males are distinguished by their elegant appearance thanks to their metallic plumage and bright red skin on their heads, is the result of pressure from many sides. Factors behind its probable extinction in the wild include widespread habitat loss, agricultural expansion, illegal hunting and, last but not least, the lasting ecological impact of the Vietnam War, during which large areas of native forest in its range were destroyed.

An international alliance of conservation organizations, zoological institutions, and Vietnamese partners have come together with a common goal: to return the Edwards’ pheasant to the forests where it once lived. The project is one of the few global efforts to reintroduce a species that is likely extinct in the wild, making it both an ambitious and deeply symbolic undertaking.

The survival of the Edwards’ pheasant to the present day is a remarkable story in itself. In the early 20th century, a small number of the birds were brought to Europe from Vietnam. This human-carried population became the basis for a carefully managed effort to save the species across zoological institutions and private breeders. Thanks to international coordination, the bred pheasants have remained genetically viable.

Now, this population from European zoos will be used to support their return to the wild. This week, a group of twenty pheasants selected from European institutions and breeders will be transported from Berlin to Vietnam. Each individual was selected with regard to genetic diversity, health status, and behavioral characteristics to ensure the strongest possible foundation for the future population in Vietnam.

Transport and next steps

The selected pheasants will be transported from Germany to Vietnam by cargo planes in specially designed transport crates that ensure safety, ventilation and minimal stress during the entire journey. The transport will be accompanied by experts who will continuously monitor the birds and ensure their maximum well-being.

After arrival, the pheasants will be acclimatized and quarantined at the Vinpearl Safari Phú Quốc zoo in Vietnam. After that, some of them will remain at the zoo and some will travel to the breeding center in Kim Ngân. All pheasants will therefore remain under surveillance. The immediate goal is not their release, but stability: this plan will allow the pheasants to adapt to local climatic conditions, form natural breeding pairs and give birth to a new generation, hatched in Vietnam. Only then will further steps be considered leading to their release into the wild.

This approach reflects the complexity of the problem. Returning a species that is no longer in the wild requires more than “just” transferring it from a zoo to its original habitat. Functional ecosystems, subsequent protection and support from local people are absolutely essential.

In central Vietnam, these conditions are being created in parallel. Protected areas of forest are being designated as potential future release sites within the species’ historical range. Conservation teams are working in the field to protect these habitats, survey biodiversity and reduce ongoing threats, particularly poaching.

Partnerships and citations

Central to the on-the-ground efforts is the Rare Pheasants Breeding Centre, run by local non-profit organisation Viet Nature. The first facility of its kind in Vietnam, the centre combines breeding with research and environmental education, while also involving local communities in protecting their natural heritage.

“For Vietnam, the recovery of the Edwards’ pheasant is more than just the return of a species,” says Pham Tuan Anh, Director of Viet Nature. “It represents our pride and responsibility to protect our natural heritage. This project shows how conservationists, scientists, local communities and authorities can come together to restore what was once lost.”

“This project is the result of decades of international cooperation,” says Andreas Knieriem, Director of Zoo Berlin and Tierpark Berlin. “The Edwards’ pheasant survived only thanks to coordinated conservation breeding, and now we have the opportunity to take the next step: returning it to the wild, where it belongs.”

Global conservation partners outside Europe also emphasize the importance of a long-term commitment. “The World Pheasant Association (WPA) is committed to a long-term partnership in one of the most challenging yet innovative conservation projects in recent years. WPA first sent four pairs of the species to the Hanoi Zoo in 1994, and today’s landmark transfer has been the result of many years of determined negotiation. Edwards’ pheasant is one of the few bird species that is now completely dependent on human-managed populations for its survival, and WPA is committed to changing the fate of this bird by restoring its wild population. The strong support from the Vietnamese authorities and the multinational team gives us confidence that we can succeed. It is a step-by-step process, with the transfer of twenty birds from Germany as part of the Bring Back Blue project being key,” said Jo Gregson, President of the World Pheasant Association (WPA). Several partners from different countries are contributing their specialist expertise to different aspects of the project. One of these is the long-term monitoring of the birds after their eventual release into the wild. “When reintroducing a species, it’s really important to know how well it can survive in the wild, so monitoring after release is essential. That’s where radiotelemetry transmitters come in, allowing us to safely monitor the birds and their health in the wild without disturbing them. We’re running trials to find the best way to attach them to the pheasants,” says Leah Williams, senior conservation scientist at Chester Zoo.

The return of the Edwards’ pheasant represents a rare opportunity to reverse a loss that once seemed final. The project therefore highlights the role that long-term, thoughtful human-led husbandry can play in conserving species, and shows the importance of international collaboration in addressing global biodiversity challenges.

More about Edwards’ pheasant: https://www.zoopraha.cz/zvirata-a-expozice/lexikon-zvirat?d=48&start=48

More about the protection of Edwards’ pheasant at Prague Zoo: https://www.zoopraha.cz/zvirata-a-expozice/pomahame-jim-prezit/16016-zachrana-vyhynuleho-bazanta-edwardsova

Detailed information about Edwards’ pheasant in a special issue of Prague Zoo’s professional periodical GAZELLA: https://www.zoopraha.cz/gazella/vydani-casopisu/15292-gazella-special-issue-vietnam-pheasant