Vietnamese pheasants Lophura hatinhensis bred at Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo has been working with Vietnamese pheasants Lophura hatinhensis since February 1999 when, through the auspices of the World Pheasant (WPA), Chester received a young pair of captive-bred birds that were the progeny of birds loaned by Hanoi Zoo. These birds form part of a managed conservation breeding programme with breeding and pairing recommendations made by the WPA studbook keeper. The male was received from Antwerp Zoo, Belgium, and the hen from the private collection of Michel Klat in England.

Breeding behaviour commenced in March 2000 when four eggs were found on the aviary floor; but rather than laid in one nest these were scattered throughout the aviary. This is not unusual in inexperienced pheasants and the eggs were gathered and taken for artificial incubation. Although these eggs were fertile only one hatched and then with human assistance but the weak chick died shortly afterwards.

The hen proved to be a prolific layer but further clutches (one of five eggs, and two of four eggs) all died early incubation. Eggs of the later clutches were laid together at a defined nest site and although different incubation techniques were used including placing the eggs under a broody bantam no chicks were hatched. In early May the female hatinhensis was discouraged from laying further eggs and at the same time given the opportunity to practice brooding behaviour by replacing her latest clutch of eggs with two fertile eggs of a golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus. These failed to hatch and this saw the end of breeding activities in 2000.

In August 2000 the male Vietnamese pheasant was sadly found dead. This was as sudden as it was unexpected and post mortem investigations indicated kidney failure. In agreement with the studbook keeper it was later arranged that a new male should be received in 2001 from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey Zoo.

In March 2001 the hen Vietnamese pheasant at Chester Zoo began egg-laying whilst still on her own. Three eggs were laid on alternate days on 16, 18 and 20 March then eleven more laid between 25 March and 14 April after which time she began to sit the eggs left with her. Eggs were usually laid on alternate but occasionally found on consecutive days but as not all laying dates were recorded over this period the clutch size within this series was not easily definable. The new male was received from Jersey on 19 April and introduced to the hen two days later after the infertile eggs had been removed from the nest site.

The first clutch of four eggs laid after the male was introduced were removed for artificial incubation and although all fertile none hatched. The last egg of the season was laid on 13 May and taken for artificial incubation the following day. This egg hatched under a foster bantam on 9 June and the chick was successfully reared by its foster parent. This young Vietnamese Pheasant has proved to be hen and was sent on loan to Belfast Zoo, Northern Ireland, in June 2002.

Art Chester Zoo in 2002 disturbance of the breeding pair of Vietnamese pheasants was kept to a minimum to encourage natural breeding behaviour. A first egg was laid on 17 March and the hen completed her clutch of six eggs and incubated these. Three of the six eggs proved infertile, one died during incubation and two hatched on 21 April. Both chicks have been successfully reared by their parents and now well grown have proved to be a cock an d a hen. We hope that future studies and observations from birds in the ex-situ breeding programme for the Vietnamese Pheasant may further contribute to the knowledge of this threatened endemic.

Roger Wilkinson, North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, England.