Birdwatchers in Shanghai were stunned by a miraculous sight—a critically endangered glossy ibis, nicknamed the ‘panda of birds’, dancing through suburban rice fields. Its jewel-toned plumage shimmered under the sun, flashing dazzling hues of emerald, sapphire, and bronze—a mesmerizing show for lucky observers.  

Once teetering on extinction due to habitat loss and pollution, the glossy ibis is now under China’s top-tier wildlife protection—even scarcer than pandas. Declared extinct domestically, its last recorded Shanghai sighting was in 1863, making this reappearance after 150 years a historic moment.  

These graceful waders thrive in wetlands, marshes, and flooded fields, feasting on insects and crustaceans. Recent sightings across China—fueled by revived ecosystems and rigorous conservation—mark a thrilling victory for environmental efforts.