20 Pheasants Return to Vietnam from Germany

Why this is here: Experts are preparing two nature reserves—Phong Dien and Dong Chau–Khe Nuoc Trong—to receive the reintroduced pheasants in Hue City and Quang Tri Province.

Philine Hachmeister of Berlin Zoological Garden confirmed Tuesday the transfer of 20 Edwards’s pheasants from Germany to Vietnam. This marks the first effort to reintroduce the critically endangered pheasant to its native habitat in central Vietnam after the species was taken to Europe in the early 20th century. Experts selected each bird for genetic diversity, health, and behavior to build a strong future population.

The birds are traveling in specialized crates and will undergo quarantine and adaptation upon arrival. Conservationists are preparing Phong Dien Nature Reserve and Dong Chau–Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve to receive them. The initial focus is stabilization—helping the birds adjust and breed—not immediate release into the wild.

An international alliance of zoos and organizations contributed to decades of breeding programs. Despite this progress, the Edwards’s pheasant remains possibly extinct in the wild, with the last confirmed sighting recorded in 2000. Further, long-term management will be needed to ensure the population thrives.