Thousands of grey cranes, a species under second-class state protection in China, have recently arrived at the Tiesigai wetland in Doulan County, northwest Qinghai Province.
The site is a critical stopover on their northward migration, providing food and rest along the journey.
Each March, the wetland serves as an "energy station" for the birds, providing food and rest during their month-long migration season. This year, more than 10,000 cranes have been recorded at the site.
At the wetland, the birds are often seen feeding or performing courtship dances. Once paired, they typically remain lifelong partners. Observers captured scenes of cranes singing, dancing, and displaying classic mating rituals, highlighting the species' distinctive elegance.
Nearby, grazing horses, sheep and other livestock mingled peacefully with the flocks, illustrating a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and pastoral life.
The grey crane stands up to 125 centimeters tall with a wingspan reaching two meters and is known for the long leg, neck and beak.
Officials say the cranes' return highlights the importance of wetland protection in sustaining biodiversity and ensuring that migratory species continue to thrive.
Thousands of grey cranes flock to Qinghai wetland on migration north
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday urged the United States to promptly conclude its investigation into a strike on an elementary school in Iran and make public the findings, stressing that "there must be justice for the terrible harm done."
Turk was speaking via video link at an urgent debate during the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, noting that the bombing of an elementary school had evoked "visceral horror."
"The onus is on those who carried out the attack to investigate it promptly, impartially, transparently and thoroughly, to determine the facts and lay the basis for accountability. Senior U.S. officials have said the strike is under investigation. I call for that process to be concluded as soon as possible, and for its findings to be made public. There must be justice for the terrible harm done," he said.
He stressed that differences between countries will not be solved by "killing schoolchildren." Turk noted that attacks by the U.S. and Israel have increasingly targeted densely populated residential areas in Iran and destroyed civilian infrastructure, describing their strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as "reckless beyond comprehension."
He called on the U.S. and Israel to end their attacks against Iran, and urged all parties to exercise restraint and return to negotiations.
The perpetrators of the school attack must be held accountable, said Ali Bahreini, Iranian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, on the same day.
"The number of the victims has increased, unfortunately, because some of those injured have died, and now the number of students killed in that incident has increased to more than 175 students and a number of teachers have been killed in this incident," said Bahreini in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
The debate was held at the request of Iran, China and Cuba. Jia Guide, China's permanent representative and ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said that China strongly condemns all acts that violate international law and target civilians and non-military facilities indiscriminately.
Also on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that more than 600 schools across Iran have been demolished or damaged since the U.S. and Israel launched military actions against the country on Feb 28, with more than 1,000 students and teachers killed or injured.
Speaking via video link at the debate, Araghchi said the primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab was hit in what he described as a "calculated" attack, leaving more than 175 students and teachers dead.
Araghchi said Iran is "amid the throes of an illegal war imposed" by the U.S. and Israel, calling it a "blatantly unjustified and brutal" war of aggression.
He stressed that targeting the school constituted "a war crime and a crime against humanity," and said the incident "was not a mere incident nor a miscalculation," but an act that "demands unequivocal condemnation" and accountability.
UN human rights chief urges U.S. to conclude probe into strike on Iranian school
