CHONGQING -- An increasing number of Chinese mergansers, an endangered bird species under state protection, have been spotted in China over the past three years, a survey showed Tuesday. Bird-watching associations spotted a total of 1,084 Chinese mergansers across the country in the winter of 2016, according to a national survey released by the Chinese Bird Watching Societies Network in Chongqing municipality. The figure was 634 and 441 in winters of 2015 and 2014 respectively, the survey said. The increased sightings could be due to better public awareness on protecting the species and improved environment. However, human activities such as illegal fishing and sand mining still pose a risk to their winter habitats. "The species is very picky about the water environment. The survey can also be used to monitor water quality," said He Fenqi, an ornithology expert with Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. For example, more than ten years ago they mainly lived in rivers and clear creeks. Now they are often spotted in areas surrounding reservoirs. "This is the result of river degradation," He said. Chinese mergansers are dubbed as "giant pandas of birds," with Russia's far east and northeast China their major reproduction bases. go wristbandsthe wristband factoryglow wristbands24 hour wristbands coupon code
HONG KONG - The University of Hong Kong (HKU) announced Monday it has established an innovations platform in collaboration with the Guangdong Pharmaceutical University (GDPU) to promote bio- and health technology and translational medical research and development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.The GDPU-HKU Innovations Platform, located in Zhongshan city, includes three core units - an incubation facility, a joint laboratory and a technology transfer unit, and aims at developing into a national-level technology enterprise incubator hosting at least 50 companies and incubating at least 10 HKU technologies within five years.A satellite branch of HKU's partner state key laboratory of pharmaceutical biotechnology will also be set up at GDPU.The move is of great strategic importance to HKU in terms of technology transfer and commercialisation of the university's cutting-edge research particularly in the field of bio-medicine, HKU said in a press release, adding that it is also a significant step to mark the university's presence and contribution to development in Greater Bay Area.
