Liandu district in Lishui, Zhejiang province, has rescued 142 wild animals so far this year.

Recently, three rehabilitated wild birds were released back into nature at Jiulong National Wetland Park, including two national second-class protected species, the short-eared owl and the collared scops owl, along with a Chinese bamboo partridge.

A short-eared owl flies in the sky. [Photo/WeChat account: wxlishui]

A resident found a short-eared owl unable to fly near the wetland park and brought it to a local wildlife rescue station on Dec 4. The owl had a wing injury from a collision and received treatment. After over a week of care, it made a full recovery.

That same day, an injured collared scops owl was rescued from a highway area. It underwent emergency surgery and gradually regained health. A Chinese bamboo partridge was brought to the station after a collision on Dec 11, but was found unhurt and released the next day.

A collared scops owl. [Photo/WeChat account: wxlishui]

Statistics show that among the animals rescued this year, one is a national first-class protected species, 46 are national second-class protected species, and 95 are wild animals protected in China for their ecological, scientific, and social value.