Save the Danfe: The national bird of Nepal

Introduction

One of the most beautiful and big birds on earth, the Himalayan Monal (Danfe), is also the national bird of Nepal. This bird is called Danfe in Nepal and is also written as Danphe.

The scientific or Binomial name of the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is Lophophorus impejanus. It is also called the Impeyan monal and the Impeyan pheasant.

The Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is also known as the Impeyan Pheasant, as it belongs to the Phasianidae family and is also a bird of the pheasant group.

Concerns

The unfortunate reality about the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird is that its population is declining, as Danfe is seriously and widely threatened by trapping in Nepal.

Although the Himalayan monal (Danfe) bird is listed as a species of least concern on the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the regional IUCN status for Nepal is Near Threatened (NT).

However, when we visit the rural areas of the Himalayan districts in Nepal, where this bird is found, we find villagers expressing concern that the Danfe bird is gradually disappearing Nepal.

According to the aware residents of the Himalayan region, this beautiful bird is still being hunted secretly and extensively. Consequently, compared to the past, the Danfe bird has not been sighted in certain areas of the Himalayas.

If, unfortunately, this beautiful bird becomes extinct from this earth forever, then mankind would have lost a precious animal of the earth, and the nation of Nepal would have lost one of its country’s pride.

Therefore, now is the time for bird-loving earthlings to think seriously about this issue, particularly in the context of Nepal.

Here, we will discuss the following significant topics regarding the Himalayan monal (Danfe) :

• How is Himalayan Monal (Danfe)?
• What does this bird eat, and where does it like to live?
• Difference Between Himalayan Monal (Danfe) and Crimson Horned Pheasant (Munal)
• Why is the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) seriously threatened?
• What are the risk factors for it in Nepal?
• What strategies have the Government of Nepal and the private sector adopted to save the Himalayan Monal (Danfe)?
• How many Himalayan Monal (Danfe) populations remain in Nepal?
• Is the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird found in countries other than Nepal?
• Also, what was the reason that the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) was declared as the national bird of Nepal? Etc.

We will attempt to explore the answer to these questions with many surprising facts about the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird. So please continue reading till the end.

Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is one of the most beautiful and largest birds in the world

The Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is also known as one of the largest birds in the world. It is also one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Because its body is colored with all the major colors of nature, this bird is the most amazing natural gift for the Himalayan region.

Why is the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) called a big bird?

The Danfe is a big bird because the length of the adult Danfe bird from tail to head is more than two feet. The weight of the male Danfe is about two and a half kilos, and the weight of the female Danfe is slightly less, but it also weighs around 2 kg.

Thus, expressing concern over the fact that the world’s most beautiful gem is endangered, this article has been prepared in the tragic context of this bird.

Habitation Of Himalayan monal (Danfe)

The Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is a large species native to the Himalayan region. In the summer, this bird can reach 4500 meters above sea level, but when the snow starts, it can descend to 2000 meters, where Rhododendron (Lali Guarash in Nepali) flowers bloom.

These birds also like to live in the Himalayan hills’ rocky, steep areas and grasslands.

However, the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is mainly known as a bird living in the temperate evergreen corner forests of the Himalayan region up to 2700-3700 meters.

Are the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) and Crimson Horned Pheasant (Munal) the same bird?

No, the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) and Crimson Horned Pheasant (Munal) are under the same pheasant family as scientific classification. However, these two birds are not the same, but rather quite different species.

‘Danfe’ and ‘Munal’, these two words are often heard in Nepali social art and literature. Sometimes, it is understood that these two words are for the same bird’s name. Somewhere, it is also understood that the Himalayan monal (Danfe) is male and the Horned pheasant (Munal) is female of the same species.

There are some misconceptions about these two birds. Neither ‘Danfe’ nor ‘Munal’ is a bird of the same species, nor is the male called Danfe, and the female is called Monal, specifically the Himalayan Monal.

Some linguistic ambiguity

First, we recognize the difference between the spellings of ‘Monal’ and ‘Munal’, although the pronunciation may be heard the same.

The mysterious reason for adding ‘Munal’ to the word ‘Danfe’ in Nepal is that ‘Danfe is called ‘Danfe’ is called the ‘Himalayan Monal’ in English. Therefore, if the Himalayan Monal is written or spoken in English, it should be understood as the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) Bird.

In Nepali words and context, if ‘Munal’ is written or spoken, it should be understood as a Munal bird or Crimson-Horned Pheasant.

This may be a case of some linguistic ambiguity or confusion, but there may be other reasons why the names of Danfe and Munal are taken together in Nepal. Because both these birds live in the Himalayan region, their size, lifestyle, and speech are similar.

These two birds are also members of the same pheasant family. That is why the words Danfe” and “Munal” are found together in the national songs of Nepal and many other folk songs.

Difference Between 2 birds

The main difference between these 2 birds is that the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) has crests on its head, while the Crimson Horned Pheasant (Munal) does not. They also have many color differences. Let’s try to recognize these two birds by their pictures:

The male Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird is like this picture:

And the female Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird is like this picture below:

The Crimson Horned Pheasant, also known as the Munal bird in Nepal, is like this picture below:

This bird, or Munal of Nepal, is scientifically known as Satyr tragopan or Tragopan satyra.

How to Identify Male And Female Of Himalayan Monal (Danfe)

The Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is not called the most beautiful bird in the world for no reason because its body is full of feathers like a seven-coloured rainbow. That is why the male Danfe looks more attractive than the female.

Male: The color of their feathers easily distinguishes males from females. The male’s color is bright green, blue, copper, and purple, with a white spot and an ochre-grey tail.

Female: The female’s throat is white, the grey body has a thick vertical full-sized stripe at the bottom, and the white color is hidden in the upper part of the tail, which is visible when the female flies.

Is the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) available only in Nepal?

The main habitat of the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird in the world is from North Pakistan to western North India, Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Myanmar. In other words, Danfe is found in the Greater Himalayan region of the Hindukush mountain range.

However, it is said that Danfe species are found more in Nepal, India, and Pakistan than in Tibet, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Recently, news has emerged of a new Danfe species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

The national bird of Nepal and the state bird of Uttarakhand (India)

Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is Nepal’s national bird and Uttarakhand’s state bird in India. Like the Nepal Himalayan Monal, it is also known as Danfe in the local language of Uttarakhand.

In Nepal, the Danfe bird is mostly seen in all protected areas of the Himalayas, Makalu Barun, Everest, Langtang, Shey Phoksundo, Khaptad, and Rara National Park. This bird can also be seen in small numbers in the Dhorpatan Hunting Sanctuary, Kanchenjunga, Gauri Shankar, Manaslu, Annapurna, and AP Nampa Conservation Areas.

Temperament, behavior, and diet of the Himalayan Monal (Danfe)

The Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird is quiet and shy like a pigeon. This bird prefers to run away from someone instead of fighting with anyone.

This bird does not like noise. Although it is nice to live in this secluded place, Danfe prefers to live in a group because this bird is timid.

Danfes mostly live in temperate oak and coniferous forests because this is where they can find suitable food. The Danphe bird prefers to live in the rocky slopes, plane grasslands, and steep grasslands of the Himalayan region. Because they need a cold area to live, a mountain between 2400 and 4500 meters above sea level is necessary.

During breeding season or when in danger, Danfes can make various calls. These sounds are used to call the pair or signal danger to mates. Male Danfe usually live together in groups of 2-3.

During the breeding season, the male determines his territory and may show slightly aggressive behavior towards other male intruders. Female Danfes are sociable and live in groups of 15-20 during winter.

Unique behavior of digging the ground

Himalayan Monal (Danfe) can dig up to a foot deep into the ground with their beaks and claws to find their favorite food and lay eggs. That is why Danfe is also known as the digging bird.

If the bird wishes, it stays in the dug hole or some secluded place for several hours. That is why it is a bird with a unique nature. But still, if it hears even a little human noise or senses any wild animal, then this bird makes a sound and runs away in fear.

What is the diet of the Himalayan monal (Danfe) bird?

Danfe is known as an omnivorous bird. This bird eats the roots of its favorite plants, some insects from below the ground, grass seeds above the ground, flowers, fruits, leaves, moss, etc.

Reproductive function of the Himalayan monal (Danfe)

The breeding time of Himalayan monal (Danfe) is usually around the spring season or April to May. This bird spends the whole day screaming for a mate during the breeding season.

Although males and females mate with multiple mates during the breeding season, they choose one partner to form a pair and stay together until the young grow up. During the spring season, Danfe birds also dance to please the couple.

After breeding, the female lays 3 to 5 eggs at a time. It has been found that the female Danfe usually lays eggs by digging a small hole in the ground or creating a small space on rocky slopes or in a tree.

After laying the eggs, the female danfe remains in the womb for about 27 days, during which time the male danfe protects the female danfe.

Danfes’ babies become independent after six months and are ready to breed after approximately two years.
Generally, the Himalayan monal (Danfe) bird’s lifespan is 8 to 10 years.

Why is the Himalayan monal (Danfe) bird in crisis?

Our main topic was how and why the Danfe bird reached a crisis.

Let us talk about whether Danfe is in danger today, its current status, and what Nepalese and related bodies can do about it.

It is said that only 3,000 to 5,000 Himalayan monal (Danfe) birds remain throughout the Himalayan forests of Nepal, spanning from the eastern border to the western border.

Despite the many national parks in the Himalayan region in Nepal, the low number of Danfe birds, only Three to five thousand, is not a good sign.

This bird has been kept on the list of endangered birds in Nepal. On the other hand, the Himalayan monal (Danfe) is listed as Least Concern in the international IUCN Red List, but its regional status is Near Threatened (NT) for Nepal.

This includes the ban on poaching and keeping the Danfe bird at home, as per the International Convention on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Meanwhile, a law providing severe punishment to those who hunt Danfe has also been implemented in Nepal.

Despite all this, bird experts and locals say that the daily Danfe is being hunted, and its numbers are continuously decreasing.

The Himalayan monal (Danfe) is not listed as threatened in Pakistan because it is not hunted there. Similarly, in Uttarakhand, India, this bird is named the state bird and is kept with great respect.

But in Nepal, It is unfortunate that Nepal’s national bird continues to be victimized by such poachers. The main saddest point is that.

Key risk factors leading to the decline of Danfe birds

The main reasons the Himalayan munal (Danfe) is seriously threatened and its populations are declining can be analyzed as follows:

• This bird population is said to be in a very sensitive situation due to its flesh, beautiful crest, and multicolored feathers.

• The Danfe’s large body size has become a curse for it because hunters have taken the life of Nepal’s national bird for only about two kilograms of meat, which is very sad.

• In the past, some traditions of Nepali tribes included decorating caps, wearing them in cultural programs, and decorating bows and arrows with the feathers of the Danfe bird. However, these activities have declined due to the expansion of education and awareness, as well as legal restrictions. These trend has been a great reduction.

• It has recently become clear that the national bird is being hunted, particularly by uneducated and unscrupulous mountain herders. When it snows, this bird descends to altitudes of up to 2,000 meters to escape the cold; however, it is at this time that it is most often hunted.

• This bird is very shy and fearful and quickly runs away. When it suddenly sees an animal or a tourist near its residence or hears a loud noise, it runs away quickly. It sometimes panics, collides with trees or mountains, gets injured, and dies.

• Reports have also confirmed that large-scale hydroelectric and road construction projects in the Himalayan region are destroying the habitat of the Himalayan monal (Danfe).

• Also, the number of these birds is declining due to increasing tourist activity in the Himalayan region, human interference in the natural environment, and the destruction of their secluded habitats.

Preventive measures and legal punishment

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an International Network for the Protection of Animals that has classified the Himalayan monal (Danfe) as being in the Least Vulnerable state. At the national level, it has been seen in the near-vulnerable stage. Similarly, according to the International Convention on Sites, this bird has been placed in Schedule 1.

Nepal’s national park management agencies are understood to be trying their best to stop poaching. Additionally, efforts have been made to prevent poaching by raising public awareness among villagers in areas where Danfe birds are found.

According to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 of Nepal, the Danfe is a protected bird of Nepal. Therefore, according to that law, it is considered illegal to harm, kill, or collect their eggs.

Moreover, there is also a provision to punish the culprit who commits such an act with a fine of Rs 15,000-30,000, a jail term of 3-9 months, or both.

Despite all these preventive legal measures, it is unfortunate that poaching and trapping of Danfe birds still occur.

From this, we need to recognize that our efforts to conserve the Danfe bird are insufficient. Either our legal system is weak, or our efforts have not effectively reached the relevant areas.

Necessity of special & effective policy and program

The following additional efforts can be made to conserve the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) bird. These Projects can be implemented through the relevant government agencies or special conservation commissions or non-governmental organizations:

• Legal provisions: Not all achievements can be achieved by making laws alone. The most important thing is the effective implementation of the law. Finally, it is necessary to consider why the law has not been able to deter the poachers. And if the law is inadequate, it should be amended.

• Declaration of Danfe conservation pocket areas: Since the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is an animal that can only live in the Himalayan regions, it will be impossible to increase its population by introducing it to the lower hilly areas or making it a domestic bird. However, in the future, the government should declare the area with dense settlement of Danfe as ‘Danfe area’, develop this area as a special pocket area, and implement the Danfe conservation project there.

• Implementation of modern breeding systems for Danfe breeding and growth: It is necessary to find a scientific plan to increase the population of Danfe. Considering the possibility, it is necessary to adopt such scientific methods so that the population of this bird can be increased by establishing a Danfe conservation network or modern breeding centers in such Himalayan areas.

• Appointment of local spies: Local social workers should be appointed as spies and deployed in areas where Himalayan Monal (Danfe) is likely to be hunted, to help easily detect poachers.

• Formation of local youth clubs: The government should encourage and allocate a budget for the formation of Danfe conservation clubs involving local youth in villages near the Himalayan areas where Danfe is found.

• Involvement of NGOs: National and international NGOs working on bird conservation or Danfe bird conservation should be encouraged to carry out programs in the relevant areas with necessary support and assistance.

• Provision of promotional materials in the Himalayan region: Extensive promotional materials, signboards, and promotional campaigns should be provided in the Himalayan regions where the leopards live, so that the fact that poaching of leopards carries severe legal penalties can reach the minds of the poachers.

Why was the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) chosen as the national bird of Nepal?

It may be an interesting question for many of us why the Himalayan monal (Danfe) was chosen as Nepal’s national bird at that time.

In this query, the answers of the related persons were as follows:

• The Himalayan monal (Danfe) is the national bird of Nepal because many of its characteristics suit the nature of the Nepalese people. The variety of colors on Danfe’s body reflects Nepal’s multi-ethnic, multilingual, and multi-religious cultural characteristics.

• Danfe birds are often found in groups without quarrels, suggesting that even though Nepal has many different castes and a great deal of cultural diversity, there is still a good sense of unity among the people.

• Like the Nepalese people, the Danfe birds are also very peaceful and friendly. Nepalese have a custom of treating foreign guests as gods. Similarly, Dafe also reflects a welcoming nature. This bird does not behave aggressively towards any animal in its area.

• Similarly, the way this bird starts dancing when it is happy is just like the people of Nepal celebrate by dancing and singing on any special happy occasion.

• This bird is the most beautiful and largest bird found in Nepal. It is a tribal bird that is more concentrated in the Himalayan region of Nepal than anywhere else in the world.

• Nepal is a Himalayan country, as it is home to the world’s highest summits. So, the National birds of Nepal should also be Himalayan birds. For that purpose, Danfe birds are prominent because they are the most attractive and a large bird.

For these various reasons, the Himalayan Monal (Danfe) might have been declared the national bird of Nepal.

Epilogue

Finally, we humbly request that everyone unite to protect the Himalayan monal (Danfe), which is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world, as it is a natural gift of the Himalayan region and a source of pride for all earthlings.

Let’s preserve our nature for future generations. Let’s live and let live!!

That’s all about the Danfe bird for now. We will update with more facts in the future.

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