Second-generation Baer's pochards released at Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve in Hebei

Twelve second-generation Baer's pochards were released at the Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve in Hengshui, North China's Hebei province, on Thursday, marking the world's first rewilding release of this critically endangered species.

The birds, four males and eight females, were set free in two batches: six were released directly in the morning, and the other six through a soft-release method in the afternoon, allowing them to enter and exit the cage to adjust to the wild environment gradually.

Listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and under first-class national protection in China, the Baer's pochard has seen dedicated conservation efforts since a national working group was established in 2016.

Six of the released birds were fitted with satellite trackers to record their movements. Researchers hope the data will help locate historical breeding grounds in Northeast China and Russia's Far East, providing critical information for targeted protection.

The release represents the culmination of a decade of research by Chinese scientists, offering a homegrown solution for the species' survival.

"This is a global first for Baer's pochard rewilding," Ding Changqing, a professor at Beijing Forestry University and head of the China Baer's Pochard conservation and monitoring working group, said.

The natural breeding and rewilding project, launched in 2022 by Beijing Forestry University, the Hengshui Lake reserve authority and Beijing Zoo, successfully established the world's first natural breeding population of the species in 2025, raising 23 individuals and completing their rewilding training.

Thanks to joint efforts, China's Baer's pochard population has grown from about 1,000 in 2012 to 2,555 today, with Hengshui Lake becoming a world-class waterbird habitat and breeding ground for the species.

Hengshui Lake reserve, covering over 17,000 hectares and known as the "Blue Gem of East Asia," has recorded 337 bird species and hosts more than 100,000 wintering birds each year.

On the same day, a three-party agreement was signed to establish a demonstration base for natural breeding and rewilding of Baer's pochards.

Zhao Rixi contributed to this story.