The suitable habitats of the Endangered Green Peafowl Pavo muticus have declined by 80% over the past century due to extensive anthropogenic degradation. Currently, only six strongholds remain in mainland South-east Asia. While there are estimates of the species’ presence and status in five of these, the sixth one, defined as an “expected stronghold” located in the suitable dry forest along the Salawin River between Thailand and Myanmar, is not well documented. This study assessed the status of the area as a stronghold for the Green Peafowl’s long-term survival by estimating 1) the population density, 2) the current extension of suitable habitats, and 3) the threats to its survival. The area had an estimated density of 0.27 calling males/km2 (CI = 0.07–1.01) inhabiting 9,154 km2 of a mosaic of forest types, including mixed dry pine, mixed deciduous, and dry dipterocarp forests. Higher estimates were reported in other strongholds, including 0.8 birds/km2 in Bago Yoma (Myanmar), 15.8 birds/km2 in north-east Thailand, 1.13–11.34 birds/km2 in HuaiKhaKhaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (Thailand), 0.15–1.7 birds/km2 in northern Cambodia, and 0.15–4.69 birds/km2 in eastern Cambodia / south-central Vietnam. Hunting, habitat disturbance, and the presence of humans posed the greatest danger to the species across the surveyed area. Our results confirm the potential of the area for the species’ long-term survival. However, this “expected stronghold,” which could sustain a population of over 10 calling males/km2 like other high-quality strongholds, is in dire need of a comprehensive management plan to help reduce anthropogenic pressure. Ultimately, transboundary management between Thailand and Myanmar is crucial for the long-term repopulation of this stronghold.

Low intensity subsistence agriculture is generally believed to be less damaging to wildlife than intensive farming. As Myanmar is undergoing rapid modernization, subsistence farming may shift to intensive agriculture, resulting in increased threats to species of conservation concern such as the green peafowl Pavo muticus. Here we investigate habitat use of the green peafowl in a low intensity agricultural landscape surrounding a small forest fragment in southern Shan State, Myanmar. The forest belongs to Nan Kone Buddha Monastery and the green peafowl is protected from hunting in the area on the basis of religious beliefs. We established three survey transects with a total length of 3,414 m. During February 2016–January 2017 we conducted surveys twice daily for 4 consecutive days every month, walking all transects in both directions in the mornings and afternoons and recording visual and auditory peafowl encounters. We estimated peafowl density to be 2.63 animals/km2 in the less disturbed western part of the study area and 1.13 animals/km2 in the eastern part, which had higher levels of human disturbance. The peafowl's habitat use was significantly non-random, with forest patches being the most utilized habitat, followed by croplands. Within a 300 m buffer zone around the forest patch, the order of habitat preference was crop > scrub > fallow, with crop significantly preferred over the other two habitats. We conclude that preserved isolated forest blocks adjacent to community-managed agricultural areas are important for green peafowl conservation, and discuss the implications for long-term conservation management of the species.

The green peafowl Pavo muticus is a highly threatened galliform species that was historically distributed widely across South-east Asia. Evidence shows a recent population decline and range contraction for this species, linked with habitat degradation and over-exploitation. This study aimed to determine the current known distribution across mainland South-east Asia and investigate potential habitat that could host remaining viable populations and contribute to the long-term survival of the species. We used locations from historical and recent records and habitat variables from a geographical information system database to model the probability of occurrence and classify key localities according to their relative importance for the species. Our results showed that the green peafowl probably occurs in less than 16% of its historical range across mainland South-east Asia and that remaining locations are fragmented. Four confirmed and two potential stronghold populations were identified for the species, based on the localities with high capacity to contribute to its long-term survival in large contiguous patches. These were in central Myanmar, western and northern Thailand, eastern Cambodia/south-central Viet Nam and northern Cambodia/southern Lao. Threats vary amongst countries, with continued habitat loss and degradation in many areas and hunting particularly acute in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao. Most of the remaining populations are in protected areas but the protection level varies widely. We propose conservation actions for each stronghold population, in accordance with the nature of the threats and protection level in each area, to prevent the local extinction of this species.