Endangered birds under spotlight

Facing extinction: The green peafowl, China’s native pheasant species, is under top-level protection as efforts are stepped up to boost numbers of the endangered birds. — China Daily/ANN

BEIJING: The pheasant occupies a privileged position in China, inspiring numerous poems, paintings and songs in ancient times.

It is also believed to be linked to the mythical phoenix, which in Chinese legends was nicknamed the “king of birds”.