Threats to the survival of crested ibis remain despite a growing number of the endangered bird over the past few decades, according to a wildlife protection forum in Xi'an City on Wednesday.

"The number grew from 7 to more than 2,000 in 34 years thanks to our protection efforts. However, problems of low environmental adaptability and disease resistance exist due to inbreeding," said Fang Shengguo, professor of east China's Zhejiang University.

Fang said inbreeding of crested ibis has caused genetic defects, resulting in increased fatality rates. Extinction is likely if an epidemic breaks out among them.

Crested ibises were once common in Japan, China, Russia and the Korean Peninsula. The species was believed extinct in the first half of the 20th century because of habitats being destroyed.

In 1981, seven crested ibis were found in the wild in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the population has increased to more than 2,000 worldwide after decades of protection. Endi

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