Survey of Major Migratory Birds Reserves Conducted in DPRK

Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- A research group of the Biodiversity Institute under the State Academy of Sciences of the DPRK made survey of major migratory bird reserves.

The group started a survey of migratory birds' distribution state in major migratory bird reserves on the eastern and western coasts of the country in March.

Targets of the survey were the Mundok Migratory Bird Reserve, an internationally renowned wetland (Ramsar Site), the Kumya Migratory Bird Reserve registered as the Network Site of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and the Sindo Migratory Bird Reserve, the Kwangpho Migratory Bird Reserve and Tongjongho Migratory Bird Reserve, national migratory bird reserves.

During the survey, more than 125 000 water birds of nearly 80 species were observed, and detected were more than 4 000 birds of 10-odd kinds globally recognized as being on the verge of extinction, including Platalea minor (black-faced spoonbill), Ciconia boyciana (oriental White stork), Anser cygnoides (swan goose) and Grus japonensis (red-crowned crane).

Anser fabalis (bean goose), Anas platytynchos (mallard), Anas poecilorhyncha (spot-billed duck), Fulica atra (coot) and Charadrifonnes including Calidris alpine (Dunlin) were confirmed at more than 1 percent of the global and regional numbers.

This survey confirmed that the five migratory bird reserves still play an important role in the protection of water bird species inhabiting not only the DPRK but also other parts of the world.

It also helped secure more detailed study data about the situation of water bird species at the outset of spring in the country. -0-