Helping with the return of the green peafowl to Peninsular Malaysia

The green peafowl, globally classified as Vulnerable, has declined throughout South East Asia over many decades because of a combination of habitat loss and hunting. In the early 1960s, this majestic species became extinct from Peninsular Malaysia. This was largely due to extensive clearing of prime forest for oil palm plantations and the wide availability of firearms, allowing easy access to the birds as a source of food.

WPA has been working with the Wildlife Department of Peninsular Malaysia, who are paving the way for the species to be reintroduced. WPA assisted in providing founder birds for a conservation breeding programme and advised in the keeping and breeding of those birds. Following the globally recommended reintroduction guidelines, published by IUCN – The World Conservation Union, WPA are aiding the Wildlife Department in ensuring that the factors that had caused the extinction no longer operate, the correct subspecies are reintroduced and are fit and healthy, and that an appropriate release site is used.