A juvenile Bryde's whale has been making the rounds on social media lately after showing up in Dapeng Bay off Shenzhen. According to the book Chinese Cetaceans, the last whale visit to the bay was near Sha Tau Kok, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in 2005.
Bryde's whale (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Bryde's whale (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Actually, since the beginning of this year, Guangdong has seen a variety of rare animals dropping by, many of which are under state protection, such as Sousa chinensis, manis pentadactyla and white cranes. Now, let's have a look at them.
Chinese white dolphins (中华白海豚)
Chinese white dolphins, under the first-class state protection, have made appearances in Guangdong many times this year.
Chinese white dolphin (Photo: Guan Mingrong)
On January 29, a Chinese white dolphin swam happily in the Golden Coast beach of Yantian Bay, Shenzhen.
In March, at least six pink Chinese white dolphins appeared in Zhanjiang Bay.
In April, five pink Chinese white dolphins were spotted by tourists visiting Nan'ao Island, Shantou.
Chinese pangolins (中华穿山甲)
In January this year, the field monitoring infrared automatic camera captured the Manis pentadactyla, or Chinese pangolin foraging in Heping County, Heyuan.
On June 1, a Manis pentadactyla was spotted by a resident passing by for a walk in Helian Village, Longchuan County, Heyuan.
Chinese pangolins (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
For the first time in two decades, two endangered Chinese pangolins have been spotted in Dongguan, signaling that a breeding population may exist in the area, according to the city's forestry bureau.
Chinese pangolins (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Two adult pangolins were captured on infrared cameras looking for food on April 26 and 29 on a forest farm in Zhangmutou township, the bureau said. A young pangolin was also found at the farm in March, according to China Daily reports. The cameras, which were installed after the younger pangolin was observed, were retrieved on July 3 for study.
Emberiza aureola (禾花雀)
On April 29, bird experts from Shenzhen Bird Watching Society found an emberiza aureola, known as a yellow breasted bunting, a rare animal under first-class state protection, in the forestry farm of Sha Tau Kok for the first time.
Emberiza aureola (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
White crane (白鹤)
On January 20, villagers in Mashi Town, Shixing County, Shaoguan, detected three white cranes in a riverside shallow. This species is also listed in the first-class state protection list.
White cranes (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
At present, there are only about 4,000 white cranes on earth, and they are rated as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, known as a “living fossils” among birds.
Sambar (水鹿)
In January this year, footage of a sambar deer, also called a rusa unicolor, an endangered species, was caught by an infrared camera for the first time in Shi'er Dushui Provincial Natural Reserve, Yangdong Mountain, Shaoguan (韶关市乐昌杨东山十二度水省级自然保护区).
Sambar deer (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Under the second-class state protection, the sambar is the largest deer in tropic and subtropic areas, and it was listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2008.
Platalea minor (黑脸琵鹭)
In January, bird watchers spotted the platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill) in Dayawan Mangrove Urban Wetland Park for many times.
Under the second-class state protection in China, there are only over 4,000 platalea minors in the world currently.
Platalea minor (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Platalea minor (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
What should we do when we encounter rare animals?
Above all, do not disturb the animals and keep distance from them in order not to frighten them.
In addition, we can also contact the local forestry department and animal protection associations or call 110, so that professional experts can deal with it.
Author | Nancy (intern)
Editor | Wing, Monica & Jerry
