White-eared Night-heron (Dubbed “Panda of Birds”)

　　Release of the White-eared Night-heron

　　A White-eared Night-heron(Gorsachius magnificus), known as the “panda of birds,” was successfully rescued on June 26 in the Sixi Ecological Scenic Area of Zigui County, marking the region’s first documented sighting of this critically endangered species.

　　Classified as a first-classnationally protected species in China, the White-eared Night-heron has an estimated global population of merely 1,000 individuals, ranking it among the world’s 30 most threatened avian species. Endemic to China, this elusive bird exhibits unique behavioral characteristics including nocturnal habits, solitary nature and minimal vocalization, contributing to its exceptional rarity in wild observations.

　　Recent biodiversity surveys confirm Zigui County as a significant habitat for multiple protected species, including the Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos), White-eared Night-heron, Forest Musk Deer(Moschus berezovskii) and Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). The area also sustains over 30 species classified under China’s second-grade protection status.(Reporter/Hu Xingjun, Correspondents/Peng Qiang, Zheng Tao and Tan Cuifang)