More than 600 crested ibises were hatched in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to bring the total number of the bird up to 4,100 in the province.

According to data from the Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, the 600 newly-hatched crested ibises included over 40 crested ibises under artificial breeding and over 560 being bred in the wild.

The incubation period of crested ibises, in every March to June, lasts for about 28 days. After one month, the adult birds teach their fledglings to fly and leave the nest.

"The crested ibises who have recovered will be released into the wild. For those with serious injuries, we will give them treatment. For those who cannot go back to the nature anymore, we will breed them artificially, " said Duan.

Crested ibis is a wild animal under first-class state protection in China.

(Cover image via VCG)

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