Oriental white storks released into wild in E China

Staff members release oriental white storks and other birds into the wild at Poyang Lake Wetland Park in Poyang County of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 8, 2024. (Photo by Zhuo Zhongwei/Xinhua) 

Three oriental white storks were stranded in Shenyang during their migration due to injuries and food poisoning November, 2023. They were later rescued and sent for treatment at Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center.

The three birds, when cured, were not released immediately into the wild in Shenyang due to the cold weather there. They were instead transferred to east China's Jiangxi and released at Poyang Lake Wetland Park, one of their natural habitats.

The oriental white stork, a migratory bird under first-class state protection, has been listed as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

A staff member measures the beak length of an oriental white stork at Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

An oriental white stork prepares to take off at Poyang Lake Wetland Park in Poyang County of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 8, 2024. (Photo by Zhuo Zhongwei/Xinhua)

Staff members release oriental white storks and other birds into the wild at Poyang Lake Wetland Park in Poyang County of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 8, 2024. (Photo by Zhuo Zhongwei/Xinhua)

An oriental white stork flies at Poyang Lake Wetland Park in Poyang County of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 8, 2024. (Photo by Zhuo Zhongwei/Xinhua)

A staff member prepares to put a GPS tracker on an oriental white stork at Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Staff members check the condition of an oriental white stork at Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Wang Weiyan, head of Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center, checks the condition of an oriental white stork in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Wang Weiyan (L), head of Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center, prepares to transfer oriental white storks at the Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)