Global News - September 2007

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Very rare Chinese bird 'could soon be extinct'

Fri 21 September 2007 17:00 UK — Asia

The Chinese crested tern could be extinct with five years unless action is taken to protect the species, a new report has warned.

Only discovered in 1861, the bird has always been rare and was thought extinct for many years until four adults and four chicks were found on an island off the coast of the Fujian province in 2000.

Another small colony of the rare birds was discovered in 2004, but a new study has found that the known population of the birds has dropped by over 50 per cent since then.

In particular, wildlife groups have said that more of the species' eggs are being consumed as delicacies.

Dr Chen Shuihua, who led the research, explained: "Our investigation indicated that its survival is under very severe pressure and on the verge of extinction.

"With rapid economic development along the east coastal area in China, tourism and catering have also developed rapidly.

"As a result a large number of sidewalk snack booths have emerged in the coastal areas of Zhejiang and Fujian."

The report added that this meant that the price of a Chinese crested tern egg had doubled since 2005, meaning that more people were being encouraged to seek out the rare birds and jeopardise their survival.

Experts believe that fewer than 100 of the birds now survive in the wild.

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