The young birds will be treated with nutritious manufactured meals for the next 45 days, and then moved to another cage where they will be trained to adapt to life in the wild.(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A male crested ibis donated by Xi Jinping to Korea has succeeded in breeding, resulting in three new chicks from seven eggs, said the Ministry of Environment on March 8.
Two male crested ibis, named Baishi and Jinsui, were donated to Korea in celebration of Korea and China’s successful inking of a MoU concerning protection measures on ibis in 2013. Crested ibis are an endangered bird species in Korea under the Ministry of Environment’s endangered species multiplication and restoration plan.
The Upo Crested Ibis Restoration Center in Changnyeopeup, Gyeongsamnamdo is currently taking care of the newborn chicks, which were fathered by Baishi. Jinsui is already a father to one crested ibis that was born last year.
The young birds will be treated with nutritious manufactured meals for the next 45 days, and then moved to another cage where they will be trained to adapt to life in the wild.
The center has seen its population of crested ibis grow to 24 males and 32 females since the adoption of the two birds from China in 2008.
A plan is in the works to display some of the crested ibis to the public in the second half of this year, and the center hopes to have a population of 100 of the endangered birds by 2017.
By J.W. Choi (summerchoi@koreabizwire.com)
