3. Species and Sub species of
Genus Alectoris
The genus Alectoris consists of 7 species and 24 subspecies
worldwide, including 16 subspecies of Alectoris chukar (Del et
al, 2011).
The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) is a game bird.
It is the national bird of Pakistan. They are more abundant then
other species and also considered as sign of good luck in native
culture.
4. Appearance
The species has white and black stripes on the sides and a black
pitches across the eye running from the forehead and down the crown
to make a chain that encircles a snowy throat.
The Chukar partridge is 32 – 35 cm in body length, by way of grey
breast, buff belly and light brown back. The colour varies among
different populations. The Chukar has coral red bill, red legs.
Male and female are similar, the male is slightly larger in size than
female (Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005).
5. Distribution
Overall distribution around the globe
Its native range is in Eurasia, Turkey, Israel, India, Afghanistan, and
Pakistan along the inner ranges of the Western Himalayas to Nepal.
(Roberts, 1991).
Distribution in Pakistan
It is distributed throughout Pakistan.
Common
Name
Scientific
name
Status Sindh Punjab Balochistan KPK Azad
kashmir
N.area
Chukar
Partridge
Alectoris
chukar
C.E P P P P P P
6. Habitat, Range
Chukar partridge is very adaptable to all kinds of arid, rocky, hilly,
stony, sparsely scrub-covered hillsides.
This bird is mainly found at elevation of 2000 m to 4000 m except in
Pakistan where it is found around 600 m elevation. They are rarely
found in highly humid or rainfall areas. (Rasmussen & Anderton
2005, Whistler & Hugh, 1949, Roberts 1991).
7. Feeding
Chukar partridge is diurnal in nature and feed on the
ground in the morning and afternoon (Christensen
1954).
Chukar partridge eat a wide variety of seeds and insects
as food.
8. Breeding
The breeding season of Chukar partridge is summer. They mature at
the age of 9 to 10 months. The breeding season starts from April to
May, a normal clutch size of 6 to 9 eggs, however, in heavier rainfall
areas, the clutch size may vary from 15 to 19 eggs and incubation
period is 22 to 24 days.
Males are monogynous. The male may performs a high step stiff
walk while making a special call. The female may then crouch in
acceptance and the male mounts to copulate, while grasping the nape
of the female. (Whistler and Hugh 1949, Baker and Stuart 1922,
Finn and Frank 1915, Ali and Ripley, 2001).
9. Other behaviors observed in
Chukar partridge
Chukar partridge is a very challenging bird, usually Chukar move in group of 5-
40 birds especially in winter and when alone, they are mostly running instead of
flying.
Chukar partridge have distinct voice calls for threat on ground and in air. For
hunters, Chukar is one of the most difficult birds to hunt and hence the name
Game Bird. Chukar have the ability to take brisk flights and can disappear in
bushes within seconds (Christensen, 1996; Del, et al., 1994)
10. Status
Alectoris Chukar has most recently been assessed for the IUCN
Red list of threatened species in 2018 (IUCN,2018). Alectoris
Chukar is listed as “Least Concern”.
But it is estimated to be declining at a slow to moderate rate.
11. Sign of declining
The number of Partridge species has dwindled to such an
extent, the sound of a half birds is occasionally heard or
occasionally seen.
Whenever we hear the sound of the Partridge so it reminds us
of our childhood and youth, now we don’t see the same groups
of birds here, the birds and animals have stopped going to
human settlements.
12. Reasons of decline
1. Increase in population 2. Illegal and intensive hunting
3. Habitat destruction 4. Predators
13. 5. Diseases: Bird in captivity die from mycoplasma infection and outbreak
of disease i.e. Newcastle, Coccidiosis and bird flue (Lateef, 2006).
6. Overgrazing
7. Use of insecticides pesticide and herbicides
14. 8. Increase in temperature
The progressive increase in temperature as a result of global warming might have an effect
on the timing of primary moult. This could affect a bird’s annual cycle, influencing
reproductive success and population dynamics (Christensen, 1996).
9. Use of farm machinery and technology.
15. 10. Anthropogenic activities
The song of chukar seems to be noising for many people in the
world but not for the people of Balochistan who love its sound very
much. Due to its melodious song for Pushtons and Baloch, this bird
is kept in cages which could be high risk for its conservation
(Talaal ,2022).
16. Steps to conserve Chukar partridge
The Wildlife Departments are doing its best to save the Partridges
from extirpation.
Awareness campaigns and enforcement of legislation are
recommended to save the population of chukar partridge.
Legal hunting of Partridges is allowed every year only for three
months from November to January and a licensed hunter can hunt
only five birds a day in small game areas. Shooting is allowed only
on weekly and gazetted holidays. Shooting of a maximum bag
limit of eight birds per shooting day is allowed.
Different protected areas are built to conserve the partridges.
Prevention of Coccidiosis in the Chukar Partridge (Alectoris
chukar) by Medication with Sulfadimethoxine .
17. Chukar partridge has a greater breeding potential in captive conditions compared to
natural environment, which supports its healthy population (Qadeer, 2022).
Establishment of Wildlife organizations
Community Participation in Wildlife Conservation
Species and habitat conservation
18. Gene Introgression
Genetic data indicates that hybridization of the red-legged partridge
with rock partridge is widespread phenomena across the entire
world.
The main risk of interbreeding within species cause the outbreak of
abnormal phenotypes and a decrease in genetic diversity of that
species (Ahmad et al., 2017).
Lack of sufficient information about protection and conservation of
chukar is possibly harmful for the status and genetic preservation of
national bird of Pakistan .
19. Objective
To find the presence, releasing and survivability of Red
Legged Partridge (A. rufa), Ram Chukar and Alectoris
chukar species in, either reintroduced or in their native
range.
To find the risk of genes introgression in reintroduced,
restocked and wild populations of Alectoris chukar.
To find the impact of game and companion rearing
activities on the said phenomenon.
To find out the involvement of local communities in the
gene introgression phenomenon.
20. Methodology
Study Area
In this study our main focus will be on Chukar Partridge (Alectoris
chukar) in protected areas, associated local communities and in
captivity.
The potential study sites will be selected after reconnaissance
surveys from all the provinces of Pakistan.
21. Methodology
Punjab
Wild Habitat:
Salt Range, series of hills and low mountains between the valleys of the
Indus and Jhelum river, located in the northern part of the Punjab region of
Pakistan.
The range extends along with the south of the Pothohar Plateau and the
North of the Jhelum River. In east west, the salt range start from Jhelum
district along with the bank of river and enter to Chakwal RM district at its
extreme south-west corner with altitude of 250- 1600m.
This range mainly contain Scrub forests. These forests provide an ideal
habitat to the wildlife.
Captive (Zoo):
Islamabad Zoo, Bahawalpur Zoo, Lahore Zoo.
22. Methodology
Sindh
Wild Habitat:
Kirthar range in Sindh .
The Kirthar Range forms the boundary between the Lower Indus Plain (east) and
southern Balochistan (west). It consists of a series of parallel rock hill ridges
rising from 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in the south to nearly 8,000 feet (2,500m) in the
north.
Captive (Zoo):
Rani bagh Zoo
23. Methodology
KPK
Wild Habitat:
Chukar partridge occupies all habitats in district Bajaur, in Malakand division.
In Chitral.
Lower Dir.
In sawat valley.
Indus Kohistan.
Captive (Zoo):
Peshawar Zoo.
24. Methodology
Balochistan
Alectoris chukar is found on many high hills of
Quetta
Ziarat
Pishin
Killa Saifullah
Killa Abdullah
Mastung
Kalat districts of Balochistan Pakistan.
Captive (Zoo):
Hazargani Zoo
25. Methodology
Gilgit Baltistan
It has two divisions.
Gilgit and Skardu.
Potential habitat for Chukar spp.
This province is close to China.
The close vicinity with China might suggest the same
genetic composition in Chukar of both areas.
26. Model Case Study
In Padhri Game Reserve (Salt Range), a sustainable conservation
project for Chukar Partridge is ongoing, since 2016.
The birds are acquired from different breeding farms across the
Pakistan e.g. in 2018 birds were brought from Quetta and in 2021
from Gilgit Baltistan (wild birds) to change their bloodline and
breeding performance.
In 2020, a stock of 46 Chukar were released at a site, in which 4
pairs survived and flourished to the more than 50 individuals.
These are then either used for breeding purposes and/or for
restocking the wild fauna.
These birds can also be a good source for studying gene
introgression.
27. Methodology
Study design
Submission of proposal to the Ministry of Climate
Change, relevant provincial departments and research
institutes for the collaboration and for the provision of
NOC for the said research project.
Questionnaire will be distributed to the field staff of the
relevant departments and local communities in the study
sites.
28. Methodology
Study 1: Distribution and habitat use of Chukar Partridge
(Alectoris chukar).
The presence of the animal will be confirmed by
direct observation of the animals or indirect methods
(calls, nest and fecal pellets).
Elevation and coordinates of Chukar Partridge
occurrence sites will be noted for making distribution
map.
The map will be developed by Arc GIS software.
29. Study 2: Trapping of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris
chukar) for Sampling
A combination of following trapping methods will be used:
Noose trapping,
Mist netting,
Lure trappings,
30. References
Ahmad, B., Anwar, M., & Khan, M. S. (2015). HABITAT STUDY OF
CHUKAR PARTRIDGE (ALECTORUS CHUKAR) IN DISTRICT
MALAKAND-A CASE STUDY OF TOWN THANA. Pakistan Journal of
Forestry, 65, 1.
Ali. S. and S. D. Ripley, 2001. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan.
2nd edition. Volume 2.Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Baker. E. C. Stuart 1922. The game birds of India, Burma and Ceylon, Part
31. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 28 (2): 306–312.
Christensen, G. C., 1954. The Chukar partridge in Nevada.Nevada Fish and
Game Commission. Report Biological Bulletin No. 1.
Christensen, G. C., 1996. Chukar (Alectorus chukar). In: The Birds of North
America, No. 258 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural
Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and the American Ornithologists’ Union,
Washington, D.C., USA.
Del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and J. Sargatal,1994. eds. Handbook of Birds of the
World Vol 2: New World Vultures to Guinea Fowl. Lynx Edicons,
Barcelona Discover Life. 2011. Fact sheet: Chukar partridge. Downloaded
from http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q Accessed March 2011.
31. References
Finn and Frank, 1915. Indian Sporting Birds. Francis Edwards, London.
pp. 236– 237.
Lateef, M., U. Rauf and M. A. Sajid, 2006. Outbreak of respiratory
syndrome in Chukar Partridge (Alectorus chukar). J. Anim. Pl. Sci. 16 (1–
2).
Qadeer, S., Ejaz, R., Husna, A. U., Azam, A., & Khan, M. A. (2022).
Breeding Potential of Pakistan’s National Bird Chukar Partridge:
Captivity vs Natural Habitat. RADS Journal of Biological Research &
Applied Sciences, 13(1), 70-75.
Roberts, T.J., 1991. The Birds of Pakistan. Vol. I. Regional studies and
non passeriformes. Oxford Univ. Press. Karachi, Pakistan, pp: 598.
Rasmussen, P. C. and J. C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The
Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. 120
pp.
Whistler and Hugh, 1949. Popular Handbook of Indian Birds.Edition
4.Gurney and Jackson, London. pp. 428–430.
