Hainan reserve quadruples endangered spoonbill population

陈小将

A flock of black-faced spoonbills are pictured at a nature reserve in Dongfang city, Hainan province. [Photo by Huang Zijun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A provincial nature reserve in Hainan province has become a critical success story for wetland conservation, with populations of the endangered black-faced spoonbill quadrupling over the past decade.

The Black-faced Spoonbill Nature Reserve in Sibi Bay, Dongfang city, was established in 2006 to protect the rare migratory bird and its mangrove habitat. Recognized as a nationally important wetland in 2020, the reserve has since implemented measures that have led to a dramatic recovery in wildlife.