Hey amigos! Ever heard of the crested ibis? 🐦 This beautiful bird was once on the brink of extinction, but thanks to some amazing conservation efforts in China, it's making a stunning comeback!
Back in the 20th century, industrialization pushed the crested ibis to the edge. It vanished from places like Russia, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. By the 1970s, you could hardly spot one anywhere! 😢
But here's where the story gets awesome. We chatted with Zhang Junfeng, a senior engineer at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center, and she spilled the tea on how they brought these birds back from the brink.
\"Shaanxi Province is now home to over 7,700 ibises,\" Zhang shared. \"Between 1981 and 1990, there were only about 10! In the 1990s, we crossed 100, and by 2012, we had over 1,000.\"
How did they do it? The team tracks the birds using markings and satellite devices. 📡 \"We also supplement their food during special seasons,\" Zhang explained. It's like giving them a little extra love when they need it most! ❤️
But that's not all. They also have over 20 centers for artificial breeding where crested ibises learn essential skills like foraging, breeding, and even courtship dances! 💃🕺 All this prepares them for their big release back into the wild.
Thanks to these dedicated efforts, by 2020, the crested ibis population soared to over 4,400. And the numbers keep climbing! 🚀
This incredible journey from near extinction to thriving populations shows what we can achieve when we work together to protect our planet's amazing creatures. 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Chinese conservation program returns crested ibises to nature
cgtn.com
