A total of 80 scaly-sided mergansers, also known as the Chinese merganser, were recently spotted in Huzhou's Anji county, the largest flock that has ever been seen in East China's Zhejiang province to date.

The water birds are under first-grade State protection and are classified as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Currently there are only 4,000-plus Chinese mergansers existing across the world and they are dubbed the “giant pandas” among birds.

The species is endemic to East Asia, breeding along rivers in the mountainous areas of northeastern China, the Russian Far East, and most likely the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the summer, while wintering in water bodies in mainly eastern and southern China, as well as the Republic of Korea. The birds, mainly found in China, are estimated to number about 2,000.

The rare bird's arrival is indicative of the environmental improvement in Anji in recent years.

The forest coverage rate has topped 70 percent in the county, which provides a basic environment for biodiversity.

More than 20 species of national rare and endangered wildlife, including South China Sika Deer, have been spotted in Anji so far.

In addition, the county has sustained its wildfire protection efforts.

Since last year, a total of 3,555 patrol personnel have been dispatched, rescuing 776 wild animals, while more than 50 cases related to the illegal hunting and trafficking of wild animals have been cracked.