Shaanxi Love Bird Week kicks off

The Shaanxi 39th Love Bird Week kicked off on April 12 at Qinling National Botanical Garden in Zhouzhi county in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

At the launch ceremony, the Shaanxi Wildlife Conservation Association launched its "Love Bird Protection Initiative", calling on the citizens to protect the environment and live in harmony with nature.

The event aims to boost the public's awareness of protecting wildlife and allow more people to participate in the protection of birds, through showing specimens and display boards, as well as distributing brochures and posters.

Shaanxi is a major bird province with more than 560 species, accounting for 38.7 percent of the country’s total.

The crested ibis, known as the "Oriental Gem", has been carefully protected there for many years and the population of crested ibis in the world now exceeds 4,000.

Initiated in 1981, the Shaanxi Love Bird Week is the oldest wildlife and plant protection publicity and education activity in the province and it has a certain influence and a broad popular support base inside and outside the province.