First artificially bred crested ibis of the year hatches in Huzhou

The Zhejiang Crested Ibis Rescue and Protection Base in Deqing county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, celebrated the hatching of its first crested ibis chick of the year on April 8, signaling the start of the new hatching season at the Xiazhu Lake National Wetland Park.

Dubbed the "Oriental Gem", the crested ibis is a rare and endangered bird species. Eighteen years ago, Deqing introduced five pairs of crested ibises from Shaanxi province, establishing China's first southern artificial ex-situ conservation population. Today, it is the largest artificial breeding base for crested ibises in the country.

As of early April, the crested ibis population in Deqing had reached 960, with 520 in the wild. Qiu Guoqiang, chief engineer at the base, said that the chick that hatched on April 8 is the 961st and the population is expected to surpass 1,000 this year.

A crested ibis rests on a wooden frame. [Photo/Huzhou News and Media Center]

The journey from 10 to 1,000 crested ibises reflects a decade-long conservation effort.

Initially, the fertilization rate was only 26.34 percent. Collaborating with Zhejiang University, the base developed a genetic information platform, boosting the rate to 87.51 percent. Survival rates of chicks improved from 33.76 percent to over 97 percent by optimizing their diet.

"Raising crested ibises is like raising children; hatching is just the first step," said Yuan Liying, a crested ibis caretaker. The chicks receive their first drink of water four hours after hatching and their first liquid food eight hours after hatching, with round-the-clock care.