Footage of a black-headed ibis, a first-class nationally protected wild animal, was captured in a wetland of Yunnan Province in southwest China.

The rare ibis was spotted among several species of waterbirds gathering in a rice paddy field. The sighting marks the first time a black-headed ibis has been recorded in Menglian County.

Its appearance is a signal of cleaner wetlands, better food sources, and improved habitats in the region.