The total population of endangered crested ibis in east China's Zhejiang Province has surpassed 1,000, after the province welcomed its 29th captive crested ibis chick at a breeding base in Deqing County on Wednesday.
It marked a milestone in China's conservation and breeding efforts for the world-renowned rare and endangered bird species.
Dubbed the "Oriental Gem," the crested ibis is among the most precious avian species in the world. After years of protection and breeding research, global population numbers have exceeded 11,000 birds.
Today, 531 birds live in the wild, while 469 remain under human care in Zhejiang – a clear sign of the species' remarkable recovery.
Population of endangered crested ibis grows to 1,000 in east China's Zhejiang Province
China has amassed 6.318 million valid invention patents by the end of 2025, marking an 11.1 percent increase year on year, according to a white paper released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration on Thursday.
The document, titled "Intellectual Property Protection in China 2025," highlights the nation's rapid progress in building a more robust IP protection framework. Public satisfaction with IP protection hit an all-time high of 82.81 points, driven by stronger judicial and administrative enforcement.
Over the past year, the country's overseas IP dispute response guidance platform helped Chinese businesses recoup 2.75 billion yuan (about 400 million U.S. dollars) in losses, demonstrating the growing effectiveness of its IP support mechanisms.
China's valid invention patents top 6.3 million
