17/05/2026
The WPA is thrilled to share an extraordinary moment in global conservation. After more than twenty years without a confirmed sighting, the Vietnam Pheasant (also known as the Edwards’s pheasant), once native to the dense lowland forests of central Vietnam, is now at the centre of an ambitious international effort to return it to the wild.
This species, likely extinct in its natural habitat, has survived only because a tiny group of birds was brought to Europe in the early 20th century. The World Pheasant Association has been instrumental in supporting these efforts. From that small founder population, zoological institutions and dedicated breeders, many of them WPA members, have spent decades building a healthy, carefully managed reserve population. Today, that long-term commitment is paying off.
As Jo Gregson, Chair of the World Pheasant Association, explains, this project represents "one of the most challenging but innovative conservation efforts in recent years". The WPA's involvement stretches back to 1994, when the first birds were sent to Hanoi Zoo. After years of determined collaboration and negotiation, the return of 20 birds from Germany through the Bring Back Blue initiative marks a critical step towards re-establishing a wild population. Strong leadership from Vietnamese authorities and multinational Recovery Team gives real hope for success.
This is conservation at its most ambitious and most inspiring.
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