Nghe An young man buys 2 rare and strange birds to give to Pu Mat National Park

The two birds are currently being cared for by the family of Mrs. Phan Thi Xuan, residing in Block 1, Thu Thuy Ward, Cua Lo Town.

Two strange birds, suspected to be rare Storks, are being cared for by Mrs. Phan Thi Xuan's family. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to Ms. Xuan, on May 20, 2020, her youngest son saw people selling birds along the road on his way home from work. Because he discovered a strange bird, he offered to buy it.

After that, after investigating and suspecting that this was a species of Stork, a rare bird listed in the Red Book, Ms. Xuan's son contacted a Nature Education Center, asking them to help find where this bird usually lives so that they can return it to nature. This center then informed the Forest Protection Department of Cua Lo Town to come up with a plan to rescue the two rare birds.

Mrs. Phan Thi Xuan recounts the incident of her son buying a pair of strange birds. Photo: Nhat Lan

The Swallow Stork, also known as the Snail Stork, belongs to the Crane family, listed in the Red Book and needs to be strictly protected. Their main feather color is white, with black or light gray spots on the wings, tail, or neck. The horn gray beak is slightly green, with a reddish tint below. The upper and lower beaks are not closed (open beak). The legs are pink, light yellow, or light brown. Comparing the external characteristics of the two birds that Ms. Xuan's family is raising with the images of the Swallow Stork, they are basically similar.

Regarding food, Storks usually only eat snails, mussels, and some aquatic species. According to Ms. Phan Thi Xuan, after her son looked it up and found out that these were two Storks, in recent days she has been buying sea snails and blood cockles to feed them.

Mrs. Xuan said: “I had to crack the snails open, but the two birds used their beaks to open the shells to eat the cockles. They really like this food…”.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Nam - Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Department of Cua Lo Town recorded the image of the strange pair of birds. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Nam - Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Department of Cua Lo Town, after being informed by the Center for Nature Education, the Department went down to check. Ms. Xuan's son said that he initially intended to buy it with the intention of releasing it. However, when he suspected that this was a rare species of Stork, he wanted them to be well cared for and returned to their proper environment...

After confirming the incident, the Forest Protection Department of Cua Lo Town reported to the Forest Protection Department for guidance; at the same time, contacted Pu Mat National Park, requesting a rescue plan. Mr. Nguyen Trung Nam said: “When we informed them that the two birds might be of the Co Nhan breed, the Director of Pu Mat National Park agreed to send someone to Cua Lo Town to complete the procedures for receiving them…”.

These two birds have the same main feather color of white, black tail, open upper and lower beaks, pink feet... which are similar characteristics to the Stork species. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to the Director of Pu Mat National Park, Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong confirmed that in the coming days, the Park representative will return to Cua Lo Town to complete the procedures to receive the two birds.

The Director of Pu Mat National Park also added: “The Stork is a bird species that only exists in some places in the Southern region. Therefore, if it is determined to be a Stork, Pu Mat National Park will take care of it temporarily, then contact to return it to the right place suitable for the living conditions of this bird species…”./.