In the early winter morning, black-necked cranes are leisurely "walking" in the riverside fields of Maizhokunggar in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, adding some vitality to this land.

As a national first-class protected animal, black-necked crane, also called "Chongchong" in Tibetan, enjoys the reputation of "auspicious bird".

Many wetlands in Xizang are ideal places for black-necked cranes to overwinter due to abundant water and food. In the warm winter sun, black-necked cranes flock to forage and play here. Their wonderful figures and distant herds of cattle and horses, snow-capped mountains and clear lakes form a beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

In recent years, as Xizang attaches great importance to the protection of wild animals including black-necked crane, a series of effective protection measures have been vigorously implemented. Among them, specially established state-level black-necked crane nature reserves have become the most reliable shelters for them. Strict control measures and careful ecological maintenance in these protection areas provide a safe and stable space for their breeding and habitat.

At the same time, the ecological restoration project is also being carried out steadily. Through the restoration of wetlands, the conservation of water sources, and the  reconstruction of vegetation, the living environment of black-necked cranes has been fundamentally and effectively improved. According to statistics, the number of black-necked cranes in Xizang has increased significantly from 3,000 to over 10,000, and the population has kept showing a good trend of sustained and stable growth.

Reporter: Huang Zhiwu, Kelsang Lundrup

Photo: Luoke

Translator:Liu Fang, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo,Li Chengye