Once believed to be extinct, the Chinese crested tern, known as the \"bird of legend,\" is making a remarkable comeback in East China's coastal regions.
Over the past decade, sightings of adult Chinese crested terns in eastern Zhejiang have surged from fewer than 20 to nearly 150, signaling a hopeful turn for this critically endangered species.
The Chinese crested tern was first recorded in Indonesia in 1861 but seemed to vanish after the 1940s. For many years, ornithologists assumed the species had disappeared forever.
More than 60 years later, this elusive seabird was rediscovered on offshore islands along the coasts of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in east China. Since 2013, dedicated efforts by ornithologists have focused on assisting the terns in establishing families and breeding on these small islands.
These conservation initiatives have been pivotal in increasing the population and ensuring the survival of the Chinese crested tern. The ongoing success story serves as an inspiring example of how targeted efforts can revive endangered species.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
