Hunan Daily, New Hunan Client, April 20 (All-media reporter Xiao Xiao, correspondent Li Jiangang, Huang Yuli) On April 19, the Laoshan area of Hunan Nanshan National Park released that the first litter of crested ibises released in the wild in the area last year successfully hatched the first litter of chicks, marking an important step for our province to rebuild the wild population of the crested ibis at the lowest latitude in the world.
In the Laoshan Mountain Area, the first litter of baby crested ibises is born at the top of a tall tree with a wide view and sparse leaves. Wu Kai, deputy head of the resource protection section of the Laoshan Management Bureau, introduced that the crested ibis generally lay 2 to 4 eggs in a litter, and the first pair of successfully paired ibises in Laoshan successfully laid the first eggs in mid-March, and currently lays a total of 4 eggs, all of which hatch successfully by April 14, with a hatchability rate of 100%.
The crested ibis is a rare species endemic to the mainland, once endangered, and enjoys the reputation of "Bird Chinese Treasure". At present, the wild crested ibis population on the mainland is mainly distributed in the area above 30 degrees north latitude. In 2022, our province will implement the "Attracting Ibises into Xiang" project in Nanshan National Park in Hunan Province, which aims to help crested ibises further expand their living range. In Xinninglaoshan Mountain, where the crested ibis is rewilded and restored, 24 crested ibises have been welcomed from Shaanxi, Henan and other places. According to the daily life habits of the crested ibis, the management bureau established a protection system, strictly selected rangers, monitored the population of the crested ibis, prevented man-made damage to its living environment, and vigorously publicized the knowledge of crested ibis protection.
It is understood that after laying eggs, the loving ibis "couple" take turns to hatch, generally rotating every two or three hours. The incubation period of the crested ibis is about 28 days, and after the chicks are born, the father and mother of the crested ibis also take turns feeding them, and after about 50 days of feeding, the young begin to go down the tree to feed themselves.
Wu Kai said that the baby crested ibis is currently in good condition and has enough food, and it has grown to about 0.5 kg in just one week. Four other pairs of successfully paired ibises are laying eggs.
"The successful hatching of baby crested ibises in Laoshan proves that the idea of rebuilding the wild population of the crested ibis at the lowest latitude in the world has become a reality, which also reflects the superiority of the Laoshan biosphere." Wu Kai said.