Shimla, Oct. 6 -- Himachal Pradesh Forest Department on Tuesday soft-released nine captive-bred Cheer pheasants at Moi Jubbar inp Koti area of Shimla under its ongoing reintroduction programme aimed at restoring the threatened Himalayan species in its natural habitat.

The release, comprising two families of the pheasants, was carried out as part of Wildlife Week 2026 celebrations by K Thirumal, APCCF (Wildlife), in the presence of Preeti Bhandari, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Circle (South), Shimla, officials of the Wildlife Division, Koti Gram Panchayat Pradhan Pratibha, local residents and forest staff.

The nine birds were brought from the Cheer Pheasant Conservation Breeding Programme facility at Chail.

Moi Jubbar is the third rel...