In the world of ornamental birds, the yellow crest stands out with pure white fur and gold crested. But that beauty has made them a target of illegal hunting for decades.
This type of chives lives mainly in forests and growing land in East Timor as well as Sulawesi and the small Korean archipelago of Indonesia
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), since 1978, the number of species has decreased by 90%, now there are less than 2,000 adults in the wild.
Notably, Hong Kong (China) - which is a crowded city - has become a "shelter" for this bird species. About 200 individuals, equivalent to 10% of the global population, are living in parks and green areas in the city. The herds of swans with their characteristic shouts often surprise people when they meet them right in the center of the city.
However, their existence is also seriously threatened. The biggest reason is the lack of nesting space. Golden-cheeked caterpillars often lay eggs in ancient tree nests, but many old trees were knocked down or pruning for public safety, causing the number of natural nests to decrease.
In addition, illegal trade still exists, despite Indonesia's ban on exporting this wildet since 1994. A baby can be sold for up to 14,000 Hong Kong dollars (equivalent to 1,800 USD, nearly 50 million VND) at ornamental bird shops.
To save this rare bird, conservationists at Hong Kong University (China) have launched a project to install an artificial nest box that simulates natural tree holes. Some pairs of swans have begun to accept breeding in new boxes, opening up hope of replicating the cluster. It is expected that about 50 nest boxes will be placed in many green spots on Hong Kong Island (China) in the next few years.
Experts emphasized that conservation efforts in Hong Kong (China) not only help maintain this small population but also contribute to protecting a bird species on the IUCN "extremely endangered" list.
In the context of increasingly devastated natural forests in Indonesia and East Timor, the existence of yellow-throated crustaceans in Hong Kong (China) has become a vivid testament to their adaptability, and a warning about human responsibility to protect nature.
