Wildlife officials in Himachal Pradesh are excited over the first successful hatching of chicks in captivity of a highly threatened species of Himalayan pheasant.

Experts say the hatching Wednesday of two chicks of the beautiful Western Tragopan pheasant, which has been plagued by low fertility rates, occurred in captivity for the first time in the world in 100 years.

"Two chicks were hatched in the Sarahan pheasantry four weeks after the hen had laid the eggs. Out of the four eggs laid, two hatched successfully," said an excited B.L. Negi, wildlife official in charge of the pheasantry.

There are only seven Western Tragopans in the pheasantry, located at 8,000 ft above sea level, 150 km north of the state capital.

The bird's plumage is so brilliant that the hill folk in the state call it the king of birds.

"One chick was hatched in 1993 but died immediately. But this is for the first time that chicks are being hatched in captivity after painstaking efforts by all to create the right conditions for the birds," said Negi.

"Deficiency of Vitamin E was found to be a major factor by experts for the low fertility rates among the Western Tragopan. So we changed their diet, besides improving their surroundings in the pheasantry to make it stress free," said Negi who has been trained in Britain.

According to officials, the World Pheasant Association and conservation and breeding expert John Corder of Britain aided the Sarahan pheasantry in the effort. Corder has also invited local wildlife officials to Britain for training.

The central government gave around Rs.50 million for the project.

The Western Tragopan pheasant is mentioned as a critically endangered species in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Leading international pheasant experts have been trying for the last 12 years to conserve and breed the bird.

The pheasants have richly patterned and spotted plumage, with contrasting areas of bare skin around their throats and eyes.

Little is known about these shy and nervous birds, which live in inaccessible, high-altitude areas of the Western Himalayas.