Hainan reserve quadruples endangered spoonbill population

Updated: Apr 27, 2025 By CHEN BOWEN in Haikou chinadaily.com.cn Print

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A flock of black-faced spoonbills are pictured at a nature reserve in Dongfang city, Hainan province. [Photo by Huang Zijun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Conservation efforts include removing 850 acres of aquaculture ponds to restore natural tidal flows and rebuild food sources, shutting down wind turbines to prevent bird collisions, replanting native mangrove species while removing invasive plants and compensating local communities with monthly payments to reduce fishing disruptions.

The broader avian population has also surged, from 5,000 birds in 2023 to 7,000 in 2025, with 31 new species documented, including the cotton pygmy goose and black-winged kite. Experts credit the rebound to improved mangrove health, expanded food supplies and reduced human interference.

Since 2020, the reserve has cleared invasive species and replanted native mangroves, strengthening coastal resilience against storms and filtering pollutants. Bird species in the area have jumped from 75 to 106, while eco-tourism has flourished, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually for events like "Bird-Loving Week" and "Wetland Day".

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