Oriental Darter Spotted for First Time in Hainan

By / HICN / Updated: 17:51,19-July-2025

An Oriental darter had been spotted within the Haiwei National Wetland Park in Changjiang Li Autonomous County.

The Haiwei National Wetland Park in Changjiang Li Autonomous County revealed that an Oriental darter (Latin name: Anhinga melanogaster), a bird listed as a near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), had been spotted within the park. According to the Hainan Provincial Bird Records Center, this is the first time the Oriental darter has been recorded in Hainan, and its appearance adds to the province’s ornithological diversity.

An Oriental darter had been spotted within the Haiwei National Wetland Park in Changjiang Li Autonomous County.
The Oriental darter, a long-necked waterbird resembling the cormorant, primarily inhabits freshwater lakes and rivers, occasionally visiting mangrove swamps and tidal entrances, particularly in waters with scattered trees and woods, the edge of forests, or densely vegetated islands. It has been classified as a near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and it is also a rare animal in China.

An Oriental darter had been spotted within the Haiwei National Wetland Park in Changjiang Li Autonomous County.

As a key bird sanctuary in Hainan, the Haiwei National Wetland Park in Changjiang Li Autonomous County has a diverse range of habitats offering plentiful food and a safe natural environment for birds to breed. Currently, 213 species of birds have been recorded in the park, including 3 species of national first-class protected animals and 39 species of national second-class protected animals. The park is committed to continued observation and monitoring work to create safer natural environments for wild animals.

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