The red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) is considered one of the most important species due to its economic and cultural significance. Believed to have originated at Motichoor in Haridwar, the fowl is also considered to be the ancestor of all domestic chickens in the world.

Poultry epidemics including repeated occurrences of bird flu virus in parts of South East Asia in the recent past, could wreck havoc on the poultry industry in that case one of the main fall back options for humankind would be the wild red jungle fowl.

Considering the importance of the red jungle fowl, the WII successfully conducted a survey two years ago to assess the red jungle fowl's distribution across India. In the survey, the fowl's current distribution was found in 21 range states and its presence was also reported from 170 protected areas, including 31 national parks and 159 wildlife sanctuaries. After completion of the first phase of the project, WII's scientists are now working for the second phase which involves genetic studies linked to identifying pure red jungle fowl population in the country.

According to Dr S Sathyakumar, a WII scientist and principal investigator of the project, the team is in the process of creating genetic maps for wild red junglefowl population in the crucial second phase which may lead to possible patenting of strains. This is important as fears have been expressed that its population may genetically contaminated leading to no pure red junglefowl population.

With the red jungle fowl still being poached extensively for meat, poaching presents a major challenge in the conservation of the red jungle fowl. However, the current distribution was found to be largely similar to historical distribution barring some exceptions where it is discontinuous due to alteration in areas in the form of cities, changed landscapes and unsuitable habitats like wetland, fragmented forest patches and high altitude areas.