On August 15, National Ecology Day of China, Haizhu Wetland announces the successful re-habitation of two bird species: the collared finchbill and the rose-ringed parakeet, a bird that had not been recorded in the wild in Guangzhou since 1980.
Once a common sight in the Pearl River Delta, rose-ringed parakeets faced a sharp decline due to illegal hunting and habitat pollution, making them rare in the wild. In 2021, they were classified as the nation's secondary protected wild animal.
That same year, around 20 domesticated rose-ringed parakeets were reintroduced to Haizhu Wetland after undergoing a year of wild acclimatization led by the Institute of Zoology at the Guangdong Academy of Sciences (GIZ) in collaboration with the Guangzhou Municipal Forestry and Landscaping Bureau. Three years later, these vibrant birds have established themselves within the wetland.
Haizhu Wetland has become the nest for many endangered birds species. Dr. Hu Huijian from GIZ said, "The arrival of these angels of trees symbolizes the wetland's commitment to ecological preservation."
A celebration for National Ecology Day was also held in Haizhu Wetland by the Forest and Wetland Bureau of Haizhu District. The International Biennial of Ecology Arts and a series of reading activities will be presented to the public by the wetland in the future.
Haizhu Wetland, known as the "Green Heart of Guangzhou," is the city's first national wetland park. Covering an area of 1,100 hectares, it is also the largest national wetland park located in the central area of a major city in China.
Author | Tonny (intern), Chua
Editor | Monica, Will, James
Photo | Publicity Department of Guangzhou's Haizhu District
