A Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri) is spotted on Jian Gong Lake in Haimen district, Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A pair of the globally critically endangered Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri) species of duck — one male and one female — was recently discovered on Jian Gong Lake in Haimen district, Nantong, Jiangsu province.

Jian Gong Lake has long been renowned for its rich biodiversity, hosting a variety of bird species, including abundant and widely distributed dominant species such as the mallard and the teal, as well as the rare and elusive Baer's Pochard.

Baer's Pochard is a migratory bird belonging to the family Anatidae within the order Anseriformes. It is often referred to as the "panda of the water". During the breeding season, they inhabit lakes and marshes rich in aquatic plants, while in winter, they gather in large water bodies and often mix with other diving ducks.

Primarily found in the eastern and southwestern regions of Asia, the Baer's Pochard population has drastically declined over the past three decades due to habitat degradation, overhunting, and the destruction of breeding and wintering grounds.

In 2012, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) elevated the species to critically endangered (CR) status. In 2021, China designated the Baer's Pochard as a first-level key protected bird species.

The discovery can be attributed to the implementation of a series of measures by authorities, including strict enforcement of the ban on fishing and harvesting in the Yangtze River and coastal fishing moratorium policies, leading to a significant increase in the populations of Chinese sturgeon and Yangtze finless porpoises.

Coastal fishery resources have also rapidly recovered, attracting false killer whales to the sea area near Haimen for feeding and play on multiple occasions.

According to the latest biodiversity observation results, a total of 1,185 species have been recorded in Haimen. With the addition of the new species from this survey, there are 23 additional bird species, indicating significant achievements in biodiversity conservation efforts over the years.