An injured crested serpent eagle, a national second-class protected species in China, has been rescued in Nanxiong County-level City, Shaoguan City, northern Guangdong Province.
The bird was found under a banyan tree by villager Hu Shiyun during his morning walk in Lijing Village, Quan'an Town. He took it home for temporary care and informed local authorities after noticing its injured wings.
Weighing about 1 kilogram with a wingspan of 1.28 meters, the eagle has since regained strength after several days of care. It has been transferred to the Xiaoliukeng–Qingzhangshan Provincial Nature Reserve for further treatment.
Crested serpent eagles are medium-to-large birds of prey that inhabit well-preserved evergreen broadleaf forests, feeding on snakes, frogs and small mammals. Their presence is often regarded as an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.
In recent years, Nanxiong has strengthened ecological conservation, creating better habitats for wildlife. The area is now home to a growing number of protected species, including two under national first-class protection and 46 under second-class protection.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Nanxiong Fabu
