The scene of "Xixi" (pictured right) when it was released in Jiangxi. This newspaper reporter Qian Jin Pan Lifeng photographed
The scene when "Xixi" was released in Jiangxi.
It was learned from the city's wildlife protection department that the National First Class Protected Animal "Xixi", which was rescued in Tianjin and released to Poyang Lake, the Oriental White Stork" has crossed more than 1,000 kilometers from six provinces during its migration to the north this spring, and has flown back to Tianjin, and has been staying in several major wetland protection areas in our city to rest and forage.
In late August last year, a wild Eastern White Stork was left behind on its way southward and was promptly sent to the Tianjin Wildlife Rescue and Domestication Center (referred to as the "Wild Breeding Center") for rescue. The wildlife conservation research team of Tianjin Normal University collected its feather samples and fresh fecal samples for a dynamic assessment of health levels. Since then, the ambulance crew and the research team have carefully cared for this oriental white stork and named it "Xixi", which means that it hopes to find new friends and adapt to a new life as soon as possible.
After more than 3 months of meticulous care, "Xixi" recovered rapidly in physical condition and had the conditions for wild release. On December 12 last year, this reporter, along with the staff of the Yefan Center, released 15 rescue and rehabilitation migratory birds, including "Xixi", on the shore of Poyang Lake, thousands of miles away from Tianjin. Before the release, the research team wore a satellite tracker for the "Heshi".
Since the release day, the satellite positioning signal of "Xixi" has touched the hearts of everyone. The research team and the Wild Fan Center track data through satellites, dynamically monitor and remotely guard "Xixi". For several months, "Xixi" has spent the winter in Poyang Lake safely and actively.
On the morning of March 8, the research team was pleasantly surprised to find that "Xixi" had set off. "After the beginning of the spring migration to the north, we have been hoping that 'Xixi' can pass through Tianjin and return to 'home' to see." Professor Zhao Dapeng, head of the research team, said.
"Xixi" lived up to expectations, lasted more than 80 hours, flew over Jiangxi, Hubei, Anhui, Henan, Shandong, Hebei six provinces, straight across more than 1,000 kilometers, and successfully flew to Tianjin on the afternoon of the 11th.
On the morning of the 12th, Professor Zhao Dapeng braved the rain to rush to the site of the "Xixi" perching activity to see this "old friend". "Although the weather conditions were not ideal, we still saw the figure of 'Hexi' and was very excited." Professor Zhao Dapeng said, "What is even more gratifying is that 'Xixi' is not alone, but has joined the collective life, which shows to a certain extent that this wildlife rescue work is successful and the choice of release is scientific." ”
The satellite positioning system clearly records the trajectory of "Xixi", and on the way north, it treats Tianjin "differently".
"It's mainly reflected in two aspects: time and route." Professor Zhao Dapeng analyzed that in terms of time, before flying to Tianjin, "Xixi" traveled every day until it was late before stopping in place, staying only one night, and leaving the next morning. When "Xixi" arrived in Tianjin, it was afternoon, and there were still a few hours before dark, but it did not choose to continue north, but quickly found a "post" to stay, stayed for many days, and has not left yet. In terms of route, before arriving in Tianjin, "Xixi" went all the way to the north, the trail was almost a straight line, and did not take the "turning back road"; after arriving in Tianjin, the trail began to become tortuous, and it stopped at dozens of locations in Binhai New Area, Xiqing District, Jinnan District, Dongli District, Ninghe District and other places.
Professor Zhao Dapeng believes that the wild animals rescued and released have passed through the former rescue sites and stopped for a long time during the northward migration, which proves that Tianjin's ecological environment is good and also reflects the "feelings" of wild animals for the land of Tianjin.
Over the years, the city has continuously increased the protection of wild animals, since 2019 alone, the city has rescued 7619 wild animals (heads) of various types, including 55 wild animals (heads) under national first-level key protection, 671 wild animals (heads) under national second-level key protection, and a total of 1619 wild animals (heads) released.
"According to the characteristics of the protection of wild animals and their habitats in our city, we have identified the national key protected wild animals such as the Oriental White Stork and the Relict Gull as the key protection objects, the nature reserves, along the beach, the fish ponds and shrimp ponds as the key protection areas, and the residents around the main habitats of wild animals as the key publicity groups, and continue to strengthen the monitoring and investigation, inspection and patrol, publicity and education, and rescue and release of wild animals and their habitats." Jiao Xiaotong, deputy director of the Forest and Wildlife Protection Department of the Municipal Bureau of Planning and Resources, said that this spring migratory birds arrived as promised, as of now, the number of migratory birds migrating through our city has reached hundreds of thousands, of which more than 5,000 are Oriental White Storks, mainly distributed in the Seven Caspian Sea, Beidagang, Tuanbo, Dahuangbao Wetland Nature Reserve and wetlands along the beach. In addition, the monitoring also found that more and more migratory birds choose to stay in the green ecological barrier areas of "Jincheng" and "Bincheng". As the ecological environment of our city continues to improve, the range suitable for migratory birds to inhabit is getting wider and wider. (Source: Tianjin Daily)