A buzzard is released into the wild on Nov 30 on the outskirts of Beijing. [China News Service] Two injured buzzards were released into the wild on Nov 30 after being nursed back to health at the Beijing Raptor Rescue Center in the Jiufeng National Forest Park, on the outskirts of the capital. GPS tracking data on Tuesday showed one of the birds of prey had flown to southern Henan province, while the other reached a county south of Shijiazhuang in Hebei province. The common buzzard is a wildlife species accorded second-level State protection. Yet they are still the target of poachers. Zhou Lei, who works at the rescue center, said one of the birds, which was sent to the center by citizens on Oct 12, had a slingshot pellet in its body. The other, received on Nov 16, had wounds to its mouth, chest and feathers. If a raptor has to be sent to our center that generally means it is terminally ill and we only have a small chance of saving it, Zhou said. He said the untamed nature of such birds makes them difficult to treat. Sometimes they tear off bandages just after we wrap them up. We had to make an Elizabeth collar for one, he said, referring to the conelike headgear often seen on injured cats and dogs. Before release, the center fitted the buzzards with GPS trackers, enabling its workers to monitor the birds' flight altitude and geographic coordinates. If we find that the buzzard is no longer moving, we search for it, as we may need to rescue it again, he said. Deng Wenhong, executive director of the rescue center and a professor at Beijing Normal University, said the solar-powered GPS trackers are made in China and weigh 17 grams. They can recharge as many as 500 times with direct light, oblique light and weak light. After the battery is depleted in two or three years, they automatically drop off. Raptors are at the top of the food chain, Deng said. They are the 'dominators' and 'regulators' of other species, critical to maintaining the stability of ecosystems. By tracking them, we not only learn their life-history traits, but also the characteristics of other species within their territory. About 80 percent of the 4,475 birds of prey helped by the rescue center last year were injured. Almost 15 had received wounds from nets, air guns or slingshots used by poachers. Other causes of injury included eating poisoned mice and hitting glass window panes. The two buzzards were lucky to be found early and receive professional treatment. But they still face the danger of being caught or killed, Zhou said. It is crucial to raise the awareness of citizens to protect and help raptors. It is unrealistic for rescue centers to organize patrols for injured animals. Qiu Weiyi contributed to this story. 24hr wristbandchildren in need wristband202mm to inches24 hour bracelets
BANGKOK - The construction of Thailand-China railway project from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, which will be further extended to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border in the future, will start in 2017 for sure, Chatchai Thipsunaree, Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Transport, said on Tuesday. "We (Thailand and China) are almost done with the contract, 90 percent I will say, the construction will start in this year for sure," Chatchai told Xinhua after a press conference of the Transport Ministry. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith also mentioned the railway project at the press conference, saying it is a project of great importance to the kingdom, as it will connect Thailand with neighboring countries. The current project, 252 km high speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, will be extended another 355 km to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border, connecting with China-Lao railway from Vientiane to Kunming in China's southern Yunnan Province, according to Arkhom. The railway is also to be extended to the south, to Kuala Lumpur and finally Singapore, Arkhom said. The Thai government also plans to build a public-private partnership high-speed rail from Bangkok to Rayong to connect with the Thailand-China railway project. Several Thai experts told Xinhua earlier that they want the railway plan to be implemented in a faster way. Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, National Research Council, told Xinhua that she hopes that China can help to push the Thailand-China railway project for it to become a "successful case" of cooperation between countries. Swai Visavanant, senior researcher at Chulalongkorn University's China Study Center, urged the Thai government to quickly move toward the implementation of the railway project, otherwise, Thailand may lose a good chance in its development. According to Arkhom, China and Thailand still need to agree on three things, such as materials for the construction, consulting fee and whether it is necessary for Chinese engineers to get Thai engineering certifications before they come to work in the kingdom.
