Two species of monal, a colour pheasant, were sighted together in Local wildlife enthusiasts in Upper Siang district of central Arunachal Pradesh.
While Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is more widely distributed from Afghanistan to northeast India, the rarer Sclater’s (Lophophorus sclateri) monal is found in southern China and northern Myanmar.
A trio of wildlife enthusiasts – Obang Mibang, Tajir Tamuk and Geyong Tayeng – led by Mt. Everest climber Kishon Tekseng and his team sighted the birds on Mount Eko Dumbing at 4,173 metres above mean sea level. The sighting was during an expedition in April.
A male Sclater’s monal, listed as vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature was also sighted near Komji Lipik at an altitude of 2,850 metres.
A pair of male and female Himalayan monal was sighted at Bomeh at 3,700 metres above mean sea level.
Komji Lipik and Bomeh, also in Upper Siang district, are on the way to Mount Eko Dumbing, which is covered by snow for the most part of the year.