Green Peafowl - Status

Status

Due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat, the Green Peafowl is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. The world population has declined rapidly and the species no longer occurs in many areas of its past distribution. The last strongholds for the species are in protected areas such as Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand, Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam and Baluran National Park in Java, Indonesia. The population in the wild was estimated to be about 5,000 to 10,000 individuals around 1995.

Although there is no natural range overlap with the Indian Peafowl, hybridisation with the Indian Peafowl is still a threat. The two species produce fertile hybrids and feral Indian Peafowl may hybridize with wild Green Peafowl. In captivity hybrids are called "spaulding" peafowl and are used by breeders to create different breeds. Through backcrossing some hybrids become almost indistinguishable from pure Green Peafowl. Because some aviculturists refer to all races as "Java Peafowl", the subspecies of Green Peafowl are also mixed in captivity.

In 2005, The Star reported that successful reintroductions were being made in Malaysia by the World Pheasant Association (WPA). The article stated that the genetic research proved the Javan and Malay Peafowl were genetically identical and the subspecies muticus was introduced - the scientific community consensus. There has, however, been some dispute that the Malaysian and Javanese muticus birds are not identical so it is uncertain which subspecies was introduced. At least some of the birds introduced in Malaysia were actually spicifer, which was once found on the northern tip of the country.