Hai Duong works to preserve Stork Island

Hai Duong (VNA) – Thanh Mien district in the Red River Delta province of Hai Duong is working on plans to protect the Chi Lang Nam Stork Island, given the falling number of storks and herons.

With a total area of over 31.6 ha, the Stork Island is located in the middle of An Duong Lake in Chi Lang Nam commune.

The island, which is home to about 170 flora and fauna species, was recognised as a national relic site in 2014.

From the ninth lunar month to the fourth lunar month of next year, thousands of storks, herons and other bird species to the island to search for food. It is estimated that around 16,000 storks and 6,000 herons are making their nests on the island.

The Stork Island has been designated as an eco-tourism destination. The best time to visit the site is between September and April. At present, it already welcomes thousands of visitors a year.

However, over the past years, the number of storks on the island declined sharply due to illegal hunting and trapping.

Nguyen Dang Giam, deputy head of the management board of the relic site, said his agency has coordinated with the People’s Committee of Chi Lang commune to establish a 56-member working group which is divided into three teams in charge of preventing, detecting and handling the hunting and trapping.

The efforts to protect the island have received the warm welcome of local people, he said.

The management board has also coordinated with domestic and foreign scientists to study characteristics of storks and herons to adjust their habitat, he said, adding that the island has been upgraded with more plants.

Thanks to such efforts, more stocks have recently flocked to the island, thus attracting crowds of visitors, Giam said./.