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Site description (2004 baseline):

Pfutsero-Chizami IBA is located in Phek district in southern Nagaland, bordering Manipur. Ripley (1952) has referred to Pfutsero in his paper. Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii and Mrs Hume’s Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae are the main threatened species found in the area. A part of this IBA forms the catchment area of the Chindwin river of Myanmar. This IBA is hilly with good forest cover, particularly the ridges and tops of the hills. Near Chizami, secondary forest with shrubs, scrub and grass dominates. This is mainly due to anthropogenic factors (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003).

AVIFAUNA: More than 80 bird species have been recorded in the area during brief surveys, but there may actually be more than 200 species. While the subtropical forest near Pfutsero is a stronghold of Blyth’s Tragopan (Choudhury 2001), the secondary forest near Chizami is known for Mrs Hume’s Pheasant (Choudhury 2002a). Besides these two globally threatened species, four restricted range species (including Blyth’s Tragopan) have been recorded in the area. There is no recent record of the Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis, as all hornbills are under heavy poaching pressure for their meat and feathers. The featheres are in great demand for use in ceremonial headdresses. Among the so-called game birds, Kaleej Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos, Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus, Rufous-throated Hill Patridge Arborophila rufogularis and Mountain Bamboo Partridge Bambusicola fytchii are found.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: The Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Dhole Cuon alpinus, Leopard Panthera pardus Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and Serow Nemorhaedus sumatraensis are noteworthy mammals (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003). There is a recent record of the rare and elusive Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor from Chizami, where it is reportedly not uncommon (Choudhury 2002b).

MAIN THREATS: Felling of trees; Jhum cultivation on the slopes; Domestic Firewood; Poaching.

Felling of trees, jhum cultivation, hunting and wildlife trapping are the main conservation issues. In Pfutsero township, the highest urban settlement in Nagaland at 2100 m, there is a great demand for wood in winter for domestic fuel. Since the site is a major habitat of Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, a ‘community reserve’ may be established like that of Khonoma.

Key contributors: Anwaruddin Choudhury, Khekiho Sohe, Thomas Kent and Thozhupu Mekrisu.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pfutsero-Chizami (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pfutsero-chizami-iba-india on 22/11/2024.