China has reported success in breeding red ibis, a rare bird that had decreased to only seven in the world in the early 1980s, but which had increased to over 500 by November.

The number and living habitat of red ibis has extended to several counties besides Yaojiagou area of Yangxian county, where the first seven wild red ibis were found in May 1981, according to the forestry department of Shaanxi Province, northwest China.

Dubbed the "oriental jewel", the red ibis is one of the most endangered bird species in the world and has been listed under state protection. The first artificial incubation of red ibis succeeded in 1989 in China.

China set up a special breeding base of red ibis in the temperate zone in Shaanxi Province in 2001. Last year it brought in 30 pairs of red ibis from the subtropical Yangxian county and has succeeded in the artificial incubation, according to the department.

Figures show that 30 pairs of wild red ibis gave birth to about 65 last year and 41 pairs have birthed 59 this year. A couple of wild ibis were spotted breeding in the wild 1,100 meters above sea level, indicating the food resource and environment had kept improving and the living ability of red ibis had been increased, said the scientists.

(China Daily December 3, 2003)