Scientific Research Helps Protect Rare BirdsChinese scientists have made significant progress in rare bird protection by artificially breeding certain protected species in nature reserves.Researchers at the Xianghai Nature Reserve in northeast China's Jilin Province have successfully increased the population of such rare birds as red-crowned cranes, white marabous and golden vultures in this world-class swamp nature reserve through artificial reproduction. Meanwhile, artificial breeding and taming have been adopted as supplemental means to better protect the wild birds in the nature reserve. Xianghai is known as a major habitat for wild cranes, boasting six of the nine existing species of cranes in China. In 1992, Xianghai was ranked as one of the top marshes in the world, and an "A-level nature reserve of international significance". George Archibald, president of the World Crane Foundation, said, "The intact natural scenery, pristine environment and diversity of marshy creatures in Xianghai make it a world treasure as well as an asset for China." |
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