Recently, amid the rippling waters of White Horse Lake National Wetland Park, two recovered oriental white storks spread their wings and soared back into the blue sky.

The oriental white stork is a national first-class protected wild animal, listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as "Endangered." The two released this time are both sub-adults. They were found and reported by local residents in Shihe Town, Huai'an District, and Yinji Town, Jinhu County, on May 12 and May 17, respectively. Upon receiving the calls for help, relevant departments in Huai'an immediately dispatched rescue personnel to the site. Assessments revealed that both of them were caught in extremely strong winds, lost control, and sustained high-speed impacts, resulting in soft tissue contusions. The one found in Huai'an District was more severely injured and was unable to stand on its own when spotted.

To maximize the survival rate of these rare birds and help them regain their ability to survive in the wild, rescuers adhered to the precision-treatment principle of "one plan for one bird," tailoring diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation plans to each stork's specific injuries and physical conditions. Through scientific treatment and meticulous care, the physical functions of both oriental white storks were fully restored, meeting the criteria for release into the wild.

Since this year, Huai'an has made solid progress in wildlife protection, rescuing a total of 15 oriental white storks, five of which have already been released back into the wild. In the first half of the year, Huai'an proactively established a dedicated wildlife rescue hotline to streamline public reports, resulting in the rescue of 198 wild animals, 71 of which have been released. Meanwhile, the city intensified its crackdown on the illegal hunting and trading of wild birds, seizing and rescuing more than 1,400 wild birds.