Langshan Mountain-World Natural Heritage

Recently, a couple of wild-born crested ibises released in the Langshan Scenic Area in Xinning county, Shaoyang city,  successfully hatched the first baby of the year.  This is the first third-generation crested ibis naturally bred in the central and southern regions of China, laying an important foundation for the reconstruction of the crested ibis population in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. 

The crested ibis belongs to the family Ibisidae. It was called the crested ibis in ancient times. It is one of the most endangered birds in the world today. It is a first-class protected wild animal in China and has been listed in the Red List of Endangered Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is known as the “Gem of the East”. In the 1980s last century, the crested ibis was on the verge of extinction, with only 7 individuals left in the global population. With the implementation of a series of protection and breeding work, the global population of crested ibises recovered to more than 10,000 in 2023. 

The Administration of Langshan Scenic Area introduced 24 crested ibises in batches for wild release in 2022. Up to now, a total of 10 young birds have been naturally bred. Through more than two years of monitoring, protection and optimization of the ecological environment for the wild habitat and reproduction of crested ibises, the crested ibises have adapted to the living environment in Langshan.