TAIYUAN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Local governments in north China's Shanxi Province have been dispensing food at a whooper swan habitat to help the species overcome food shortage amid continuous snowfall.

Covering an area of 79,830 hectares, Yuncheng wetland nature reserve, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, China's second-longest river, is a major wintering habitat for the whooper swans in north China.

The whooper swan is under second-class national protection. About 16,000 such swans migrated from Siberia to the Yellow River wetlands to spend the winter this year, according to the Shanxi provincial forestry and grassland department.

Since Wednesday night, the region has experienced continuous snowfall, leading to temperature dips and causing difficulties for the swans to forage. The local governments, therefore, immediately swung into action to deal with the situation.

Wang Chao, head of a wild animal protection station of Pinglu County, said the county government has stockpiled large quantities of corn and Chinese cabbage to ensure the swans have adequate food.

According to He Jianxi, a ranger of the wetland reserve, around 100 to 150 kg of corn and cabbage are dispensed every day.

Source : Agence de presse Xinhua