By Peng Junjun

The reporter learnt from Important habitats of wild animals along the Yangtze River and the coast of Nantong published by Jiangsu Nantong Environmental Monitoring Center recently that: from 2021 to 2023, the recorded animals of Nantong include milu deer, sika deer, river deer, racoon dog, leopard cat, etc. 294 bird species belonging to 64 families and 23 orders were recorded.

Among the 294 recorded species of birds, there are 14 National Grade I Protected Animals, which are Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Chinese Black-headed Gull, Oriental White Stork, Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Crested Tern, etc. Among them there are 4 critically endangered species of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. There are 49 National Grade II Protected Animals, including Great Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Curlew, Tundra Swan, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Crested Goshawk, and Upland Buzzard, etc. 1 new record species of Jiangsu was discovered, which is Sea Cormorant.

Apart from birds, Nantong coastal wetlands are also habitats of national protected key wild animals such as milu deer, river deer, racoon dog, and leopard cat. The most common among them is milu deer.