North China wetland welcomes large number of rare cranes

SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- About 470 white-naped cranes, a bird species under first-class national protection in China, have been spotted in a wetland in north China's Hebei Province, according to local authorities.

The large population exceeds the number previously recorded in Haixing wetland, which is located in the city of Cangzhou, the city's wildlife rescue center said.

Meng Derong, an avian ex