Eight crested ibis fledglings make public appearance in Guangzhou

A total of eight crested ibis chicks made their first public appearance in Guangzhou Chimelong Birds Park on July 11.

The crested ibis is a large (up to 78.5 centimeters long) white-plumaged ibis. Its head is partially bare, showing red skin, and it has a dense crest of white plumes on the nape. The bird was once widespread in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Russia but gradually died out due to ongoing habitat loss. The last wild crested ibis in Japan died in October 2003 and they were previously thought to be extinct in China too, until 1981 when seven were seen in Shaanxi, China.

Extensive captive breeding programs have been developed by Japan and China to conserve the species. In 2012, the bird was classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The eight baby chicks in Guangzhou Park were the offspring of a pair of birds which was a state gift from China to Japan in May this year.

Although they are only three or four months old, each baby crested ibis is lively and shows great skill in flying and fishing, which draws a lot of attention from park visitors.