Trail camera footage surprises park officials: video of a rare pheasant in Thailand leaves conservationists thrilled

Adult male Great Argus (Argusianus argus), angle view, back shot, in early morning walking on dancing ground to attract female in deep jungle, Thale Ban National Park, Satun Province, south of Thailan.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation recently shared some exciting news on Facebook. On March 4, they reported that a rare pheasant known as the great argus was spotted walking through the forests of Kaeng Krung National Park in southern Thailand. This sighting took place back in January, and was recorded thanks to previously installed trail cameras.

The great argus is a shy bird that loves to hide in thick forests, making it a challenge to observe in the wild. What makes this sighting even more special is that the great argus is considered an at-risk species. To help us learn more about elusive creatures without disturbing them, researchers use camera traps which catches the wildlife in their natural settings.