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Large Habitat for Wild Red Ibis Discovered in NW China Province

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Large habitat for wild red ibis discovered in NW China province

XI'AN, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 wild red ibises, a rare and endangered bird species, has been recently spotted in Yangxian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, local sources confirmed on Monday.

The red ibises have been seen coming to seek temporary lodging in the forest near the Caihe village of Huaishuguan Town since this winter season set in, said Zhai Tianqing, head of the Red Ibis Protection Center of Yangxian County.

Describing the local village as the world's largest habitat for the red ibises, Zhai said that Caihe village boasts many lakes and large area of wetland, providing a sound ecological environment and sufficient food for the bird during winter.

The home of villager Li Paizhen is located inside the forest where red ibises seek lodging during the night.

Li said, in the eyes of local people, red ibis is kind of bird which brings good luck to people and everybody in his village loves the bird very much and never hurts them.

Red ibis is one of the most endangered bird species in the world and is now under state key protection in China.

In the early 1980s, there were only seven red ibises in China but the number has risen to about 800 today, including over 400 wild red ibises, thanks to the efforts of the government to protect the rare birds from extinction.

The number of the rare bird declined rapidly in the 1950s due to poaching, pollution and the use of pesticide.

To protect this rare species from extinction, the local government banned hunting, firing guns, lumbering and pouring poisonous baits in red ibis habitats.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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