Ibis Numbers Increasing Rapidly in China

The number of ibises, an endangered species of bird, is increasing rapidly in China, thanks to the great efforts China has made to protect the rare bird.

Yangxian County in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is said to be the last habitat of the ibises in the world, the number of these birds has grown to about 270 from only seven 20 years ago.

Along with China, Ibises used to live in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan and Russia, and were listed for key protection by international animal protection organizations in 1960.

The rare birds became extinct in Russia, DPRK and other places after the 1970s, while the several remaining ibises in Japan stopped breeding.

Chinese scientists conducted a 3-year investigation across the country and found seven ibises in Yangxian County in 1981.

To save the rare bird, the Chinese government invested 3 million yuan in establishing an ibis breeding center in Yangxian County, and sent six ibises to Beijing Zoo for artificial reproduction research. China was successful in this regard in 1992.

Now, the Beijing Zoo has artificially bred more than 20 ibises, and the Yangxian County center had bred 41 as of June 12.

At the same time, the government has adopted a series of measures to protect the rare bird. The measures include banning lumbering and use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer in places where ibises live.

Local farmers are also mobilized to keep a close eye on the rare birds around the clock.

Li Haiping, a farmer from Liuzhuang Village, knew nothing about ibises before 1994. However, since 1996, Li has safeguarded the birds and has witnessed the births of 15 ibises. This year, six more will be born under his monitoring, Li said.

Bai Xiaolong, a 12-year-old student from Liuzhuang Village, once together with his parents, fought off a 3-meter-long snake in defense of a newly-born ibis.

China's success in protecting the rare birds has won praises from international bird experts.

Malcom C. Coulter, an expert with a specialist group on stocks, ibises and spoonbills under the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, said that "China has achieved a miracle and done the best to protect the ibises."

Early this year, Japan's Grassroots Ground Aid donated 73,830 US dollars to the ibis breeding center in Yangxian County.

The money will be used to build 300 square meters of breeding rooms for the birds, and the publicity and education hall at the center, according to the agreement.



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