© Environment News Service (ENS) 2001
December 14, 2001

BEIJING, China, December 14, 2001 (ENS) - With their acute vision, hooked beaks, and large, sharp talons, wild birds of prey do not appear to need help, but when they are injured by pollution or by capture for sale, these raptors do need skilled care. Until now, there has been no specialized facility in China to care for injured hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls and prepare them for release into the wild.

Today in Beijing, China's first specialized rescue and rehabilitation center for birds of prey officially started operation. The opening of the Beijing Raptor Rescue Center (BRRC) was attended by more than 50 people including officials from the State Forestry Administration, Beijing Forestry Bureau, ornithological experts, representatives of environmental groups and embassy representatives from the United Kingdom and the United States.

Funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and located on the campus of Beijing Normal University (BNU), the non-profit Beijing Raptor Rescue Center has received certification from the Beijing Forestry Bureau as its "designated raptor rescue facility."

At the opening ceremony, Zhang Jiao, deputy director for the Beijing Forestry Bureau, said, "This center serves as another example of successful collaboration among NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies contributing to China's wildlife protection."

"It is like a dream come true," said Grace Ge Gabriel, China country director for IFAW who initiated the Beijing raptor rescue project where three birds are now receiving care.

"After seeing the plight of raptors after they come into human contact, not able to receive the best care and sometimes further become the victims of cruelty, we felt that having a true rescue center in China to demonstrate internationally recognized animal care protocols is essential," she said. "We hope the BRRC can become a Center of Excellence and help standardize wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work in China."

The Beijing area is on the major migration route of many wild birds. Gabriel says that birds of prey are often seen for sale at Beijing markets or at restaurants, particularly during the migratory season.

Industrial pollution of waterways, and the agricultural use of chemical insecticides and pesticides pose threats to all of the birds of prey species in and around Beijing.

As a domestic and international transportation hub, Beijing becomes the transit point for illegal shipments of protected species. IFAW says hundreds of endangered wild birds fall prey to illegal capture, trade and international smuggling.

Kestrel at the Beijing Raptor Rescue Center

"The raptor species stands at the top of the food chain. They are most likely to be affected by the negative changes in the environment. Many birds of prey are on the brink of extinction and all of them are protected by China's Wildlife Protection Law," said Zheng Guangmei, well known Chinese ornithologist from BNU and the director of BRRC.

Along with strengthened government enforcement of Wildlife Protection Law and increased public awareness, Gabriel says that many confiscated or rescued raptors need to be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

But, Gabriel has found, wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release work in China is in need of animal care standards, technical expertise and ethical codes of conduct for rescue and rehabilitators. Wildlife rescue centers must explore ways of winning public support without compromising the welfare of the animals in their charge.

Funded by IFAW, staff from BRRC, veterinarians from the Beijing Zoo and officials from the Wildlife Protection Department of Beijing Forestry Bureau recently attended training at in the United States, and earned certification from the California Raptor Center in UC Davis.

Through the demonstration of their professional work, BRRC staff will educate the public about ornithological science and further gather public support for wildlife protection and conservation in China.

BRRC director Zheng views the future with hope. "The opening of the BRRC has provided another channel for protecting these endangered wildlife and for increasing the public awareness about wildlife protection." Error: Unable to read footer file.