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The crested ibis, known in China as the "fairy bird," is marking 45 years since its rediscovery. Once widely found across East Asia, the species nearly disappeared from the wild in the 20th century. In 1981, just seven wild crested ibises were found in Yangxian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. After decades of rescue, breeding, habitat restoration and reintroduction efforts, the global population had grown to more than 12,000 by the end of 2025. Today, the species lives and breeds in 15 provincial-level regions across China, marking a systematic recovery across its historic range.

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China's 'fairy bird' soars back: From 7 to over 12,000