Technically the Himalayan quail is listed as "critically endangered", even though the last official sighting took place in 1876. Very little is known about this upland quail. It was first described in 1865 by Kenneth Mackinnon who shot a pair in November. They were only ever seen from November until June, which led Frank Finn to theorize that the Himalayan quail migrated. This was probably not the case, because the short wings would have limited the distance they could fly. They preferred the tall jungle grasses and scrub on the southern and eastern slopes of the Himalayas a mile to a mile and a half above sea level, making them difficult to find. There were only a dozen specimens ever recorded, so very little is known of its habits, breeding, etc. There is no way to know how common the Himalayan quail was when it was discovered. Some people think that it still exists, which is why it is still listed as "critically endangered" even though it has not been seen since 1876. What scientists do know is that it's original home range has been significantly altered by human activity. There could be attempts to search areas around Mussoorie where the endangered monal, a large blue and gold pheasant, lives because the two birds had similar habitat preferences. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Himalayan quail might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from museum specimens gathered in the 1800's in LIverpool. With this DNA they could help resurrect the Himalayan quail. If the Himalayan quail was brought to life, could it ever be reintroduced to its native homeland in the Himalayan Mountains in Northern India? If the jungle grasses and scrub lands they preferred were replanted or the areas where the monal live were protected, the Himalayan quail may be able to again dwell on the southern and eastern slopes a mile above the sea level.