At the beginning of this year, about 200 cò nhạn (Asian openbill stork) migrated to the garden. The flock has now reached 1,000.

The garden is now home to 700 more quắm đen (black-headed ibis) and three brown pelicans which have migrated to the garden.

Le Chi Linh, deputy director of the preservation zone of the garden, said cò nhạn and quắm đen were two rare and valuable kinds of birds which were listed in Vietnam’s Red Book – a list of rare and endangered species of fauna and flora native to Vietnam. The brown pelican is listed in the world’s Red Book.

Cò nhạn and brown pelican are migratory birds, thus they live in the Bac Lieu Garden for just a few months a year, and then fly away, whereas quắm đen proved to be suitable to the local environment. They tended to adapt well to the garden.

The garden’s management board said that rare and valuable birds coming to the garden meant that the environment there has been improved. Their living atmosphere was better protected and taken care of.

The Bac Lieu Bird Garden is in Nha Mat Ward, Bac Lieu City, about 3km from the city centre. The natural garden is 130ha in area and is home to more than 100 rare and valuable species.

VNS