A staff member monitors the egg hatching of crested ibis at a breeding center of Sichuan Provincial Academy of Natural Resources Sciences in Emeishan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 19, 2017. Two crested ibis chicks were hatched in an artificial breeding center for the endangered species in Sichuan on Tuesday and Wednesday, local authorities said. The two crested ibis chicks weighed 55.3 g and 51.7 g, respectively, and were in good health, according to the publicity department of the Emeishan city, Sichuan. During the past three decades, the population of crested ibis in China has grown from seven to more than 2,000 due to conservation efforts by the government and academic institutions. The endangered birds are under top national protection. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)
