ROK to get gift of rare winged angels from China

Source: Xinhua | 08-26-2008 15:21

A pair of crested ibis, one of the world's most endangered bird species, is expected to arrive in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from China in two months, leading ROK newspaper JoongAng Daily has reported.

A crested ibis is seen here in this undated photo. [file]

The gift is in line with an offer from President Hu Jintao to his ROK counterpart Lee Myung-bak, during Lee's visit to China in May.

The white-feathered, red-faced crested ibis has always endeared itself to the people of the ROK, where children's songs have been dedicated to the species.

However, none of the birds have been spotted on the Korean Peninsula since 1979.

The pair set for the ROK is scheduled to receive "red carpet" treatment on their private plane to their new home, the JoongAng Daily reported.

Luxuries include hemp cushion-lined, ventilated wooden boxes that protect the birds from the disturbance of noise and light during their 2,300 km flight.

Their trip will cost about 70 million won ($64,800), the paper reported.

The two ibises will be housed in the breeding center in the ROK's Changnyeong county in southern Gyeongsang province, where wetlands have been restored to serve as the birds' habitat.

Nearby farm houses in the county have reportedly been relocated, with local farmers being asked to limit the amount of pesticide used in nearby areas.

"I haven't been sleeping well these days because I'm so worried. If the birds die during the shipping process, it will be a disgrace to us," Kim Chung-sik, governor of Changnyeong county, told the newspaper.