Is a forest road a barrier for the Vulnerable Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti in Wuyishan, Jiangxi, China?

Abstract Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, listed on Appendix I of CITES and is endemic to China. Habitat loss and fragmentation are believed to be the main causes of decreases in abundance of the species. Wuyishan National Natural Reserve supports a relatively stable population of the tragopan but is bisected by a clay road through the core area. This study used direct observation and radio telemetry to investigate the impact of the road on the species. We found that weather was the most important factor affecting the number of individuals actually seen on the road, and the volume of traffic was the main factor affecting the behaviour of individuals, especially at dusk. The road does not appear to be a barrier for Cabot's tragopan but appropriate management is required to ensure the continued survival of the species at this site.