A Blyth's tragopan [File photo: The Wildlife Institute, Beijing Forestry University]

Staff at the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve have discovered groups of Blyth's tragopan pheasants, according to Wang Nan, the director of a bird research group of Beijing Forestry University, who spoke at an endangered animal protection meeting in Beijing on December 30, 2016.

It had been more than 20 years since the last time the birds were spotted in the wild, said Wang.

The bird has been classified as a nationally protected species in China.

Wang said a loss of habitat has contributed to the bird's decreasing population in the wild.

The pheasants mainly live in forests at the border areas of China, India and Myanmar, where there is little wilderness protection.

Forest burning after harvest and lumbering have also threatened the bird's natural habitat.

Wang said his research group, funded by the World Pheasant Association, will further examine the factors hampering the bird's survival.