Shenzhen: 14 nationally protected wild birds return to nature

Shenzhen wild birds released to the scene Ma Xiru photo

Shenzhen, April 7 (Zheng Xiaohong, Ma Xiru) Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipality's 40th "Bird Love Week" is coming, on the afternoon of the 7th, a total of 14 wild birds, including birds of prey, forest birds, water birds, were taken by professionals to Baguang Silver Leaf Tree Wetland Park to be released and returned to the embrace of nature.

The release and repatriation of wild birds was jointly organized by the Shenzhen Wildlife Conservation and Management Office, the Shenzhen Wildlife Conservation Association and the Shenzhen Wild Animal Park.

According to the relevant personnel of the Shenzhen Wildlife Conservation and Management Office, the birds released this time belong to the national protected wild animals, and there are natural populations distributed in Shenzhen. These include 2 white-breasted bitter birds, 1 small egret, 1 pond heron, 1 red-billed blue finch, 3 bead-necked doves, 1 brown-winged crow, 1 snake eagle, 2 black-eared kites, 1 eagle owl, and 1 crested eagle.

The animals were successively taken in and rescued by the Shenzhen Wildlife Rescue Center in February this year, and before that, they were all injured to varying degrees, and after careful care and rehabilitation by the staff of the rescue center, they have now reached the standard of wild release.

Shenzhen has a tropical oceanic climate in South Asia, with unique natural conditions and abundant wildlife resources. According to the survey, as of February 2021, Shenzhen has 585 species of native wild vertebrates in the terrestrial region, including 68 species of mountain and stream fish; 22 species of amphibians; 61 species of reptiles; 382 species of birds; and 52 species of mammals.

Among the land-based wild animals surveyed, there are 15 species of national class I protected wild animals (small grey cat, Chinese pangolin, black stork, white-shouldered eagle, blue-headed diving duck, small blue-footed sandpiper, spoon-billed sandpiper, black-billed gull, black-headed white ibis, black-faced spoonbill, yellow-billed egret, curly-feathered pelican, black eagle, white-bellied sea eagle, yellow-breasted bunting), and 77 species of national level II protected wild animals (macaque, snake eagle, collared owl, leopard cat, etc.), mainly distributed in Wutong Mountain, Qiniang Mountain, Paiya Mountain, Tiantou Mountain, Sanzhoutian in Shenzhen Bay and the east. Maluan Mountain and the western areas of Yangtai Mountain, Tanglang Mountain and Neilingling Island.

Shenzhen's regional endemic wildlife includes Liu's palm toad, white-spined turbulence frog, and Shenzhen houlisque snake. The more common large mammals in Shenzhen are macaques, wild boars, and ocelots. It is still found on the Dapeng Peninsula and wutong mountain, but in small populations.

The relevant personnel of the Shenzhen Wildlife Conservation and Management Office said that the purpose of holding bird release activities is to further enhance the public's awareness of the protection of wild animals, form a good public opinion atmosphere of loving birds and protecting birds, and help wild birds return to nature. However, the release of wild animals is a scientific, rigorous and legally regulated work, and the public should be scientifically released and must not release wild animals at will. (End)

Source: China News Network