A rare bird known as a white-eared night heron recently hatched at the Nanning Zoo in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. However, according to experts at the zoo, it is now so weak that it faces great risk of death.

The white-eared night heron that hatched at the Nanning Zoo May 3 still can't stand up. Photo taken on May 29, 2009. [Xinhua]

Due to its deformed toes, the young white-eared night heron has yet to stand up on its own and participate in normal activities. Originally weighing only 28 grams, the bird is hand-fed small fish several times each day. It has gained 66 grams since hatching, although it is still rather weak.

The pink bird was hatched in an incubator. Its parents – a pair of adult night herons – were sent to the Nanning Zoo in 2003 by local residents. The female bird didn't lay eggs until last April. However, the eggs were laid in a tree and the mother accidentally broke both of the eggs.

Two more eggs were laid in a nest built by the zookeepers this past April, but the mother abandoned the eggs two days later. Zookeepers moved the two eggs inside an incubator, and 26 days later, one of the eggs hatched.

Nanning Zoo is the only animal breeding base in China where the endangered night heron species is kept in captivity. Bird experts at the zoo are presently researching how to help the night heron overcome life difficulties, but due to lack of experience, they need more help from professionals to save its life.

White-eared night herons, also known as Gorsachius magnificus, are listed as one of the 30 most endangered birds in the world and are included by the International Center for Birds of Prey (ICBP) in the red book of endangered birds of the world.

The bird is listed as a Class II state protected species in China. Anyone who hunts five night herons could be sentenced to a jail term of three years if he or she is convicted.

The white-eared night heron that hatched at the Nanning Zoo May 3 shows no interest in the small fish put in front of its mouth. Photo taken on May 29, 2009. [Xinhua]

(China.org.cn by Wang Wei, May 31, 2009)