Crested Ibises from China Arrive at Sado

October 18, 2018

Sado, Niigata Pref.- Two crested ibises from China arrived at Sado, an island of Niigata Prefecture, on Wednesday.

It was the first time for China to give Japan an ibis since 2007 and the fourth time ever.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered to give the birds to Japan at a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo in May.

The male and female ibises, both born in 2016, were transported to Sado Airport after arriving at Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.

They will be sent to an ibis conservation center on the central Japan island for breeding.

Japanese crested ibises became extinct in 2003. But currently an estimated 372 ibises are living in the wild in the country while 180 others are in captivity, thanks to breeding efforts after five ibises were provided by China.

The newly arrived pair is expected to reduce the inbreeding risk, according to the Environment Ministry. Jiji Press