Rare species were spotted recently, doing winter activities in China's nature reserves and national parks.   

Several golden pheasants were seen foraging and playing in snow-covered Ganshan National Forest Park in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province. The golden pheasant is under national second-class protection.   

In Jiuquan City, northwest China's Gansu Province, the Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve welcomed the arrival of many whooper swans, which are under national second-class protection. In addition to the swans, the nature reserve is also a winter habitat for migratory birds such as mallards, diving ducks and ruddy shelducks.  

The Zoige National Nature Reserve in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is also home to rare species of animals, like the national-level protected black-necked cranes. These birds usually fly southward during the winter and come back in March, but staff at the reserve said at least one crane decided to stay behind this year.

(Cover image via VCG)

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