Tern conservation draws global support

[Video/Ningbo Evening News]

Oubab, a nature enthusiast currently living in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has taken on a new role as one of four international observers helping protect one of the world's rarest seabirds — Chinese crested tern.

In April, the Jiushan Islands National Nature Reserve in Xiangshan county launched its first global call for international volunteers to assist in monitoring this critically endangered species. Captivated by the cause, Oubab applied and was selected to join the effort.

Before arriving on the island, he learned that the global population of the Chinese crested tern had once fallen below 50, and that the reserve now shelters over 80 percent of the species' chicks — a remarkable conservation success.

During his time on the island, Oubab worked alongside fellow volunteers to identify the birds amid large flocks of terns and record observation data. He was especially moved by the care and commitment shown by the reserve staff and long-term volunteers in protecting what many call the "bird of legend".