The protection policy in Ruzhou city of Henan province enables hundreds of protected birds to rest and breed at Jianshankou reservoir in Hot Spring Town. Many endangered birds live here, including the second class protected specie at national level-- Egretta eulophotes (also called Chinese Egret) and the protected species at the provincial level- Egretta albas and Herons.

The Jianshankou reservoir covers an area of more than 200 hectares, while the wet land covers 1080 hectares. In recent years, more than 116 protected species of birds at national and provincial level visit and live here every year.

The Ruzhou government has staged a vigorous campaign to provide a better environment for birds, Campaign banners have been hung, leaflets delivered, and Bird-Loving week was held to arouse people's awareness to protect birds. The government has also set up monitoring stations to observe and record bird migration times, species, health, reproduction, and various diseases. This way they can continue protecting many bird species.

In the meantime, the government has cracked down hard on illicit birds hunting, transporting and smuggling.

Edited by Tania Lee