Three crested ibises, often referred to as the "giant pandas of the bird world", were spotted in Chenxiang village of Zhuanqiao town, Guangshan county, Central China's Henan province, the Wildlife and Plant Management Station of Guangshan reported on June 5.
The crested ibis, a first-class nationally protected wild animal in China, is celebrated as the "Oriental Gem" and a symbol of good fortune. Chenxiang, designated by the county's forestry authority as a key conservation zone for the bird's habitat and breeding, offers abundant food sources for the species with its surrounding fish ponds, rice fields, and rivers provide for the species.
"We first spotted crested ibises in Guangshan in 2018, back then, there were just two," said Wu Jun, director of the Guangshan Wildlife and Plant Management Station. "Thanks to Guangshan's favorable natural environment and multi-level government protection efforts, we've established a volunteer conservation team and designated habitat reserves." Today, Guangshan is home to over 30 crested ibises, with their habitat now spanning seven towns. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Lu Song Translator: Yang Jiaxin Proofreader: Chen Xingjie and Zhao Hanqing)
