A flock of more than 7,000 “Oc” storks have moved in the Tram Chim
National Park in the southern province of Dong Thap, the park’s
director Nguyen Van Hung said.
Scientifically known
as Anastomus oscitans, the “Oc” stork is among 32 species of wading
birds listed on Vietnam’s Red Book of rare and precious animals.
According to the director, the storks have got used to the environment
in the park which has plentiful food and water all year round.
An “Oc” stork weighs about 1-1.5 kilogrammes and has glossy black
wings and tail with a green or purple sheen. It feeds mainly on snails,
crabs, frogs, and other insects.
The park is protecting this kind of bird to serve its research on wading birds as well as enrich its database.
Tram Chim National Park boasts a rich biodiversity that
earned it the recognition as the world’s 2000th Ramsar site in 2012.
Established in 1985, the 7,313-hectare Tram
Chim became a national park in 1998 and then the fourth Ramsar site in
Vietnam.
Tram Chim is home to 198 bird
species, including 16 rare ones such as red-headed cranes, black-faced
spoonbills, black eagles, great-billed herons and spotted-billed
pelicans.-VNA