Nigeria Times

By Akio Nakajima (Japan)

The crested ibis, known as the “bird of good fortune,” is widely cherished by people in Northeast Asia. In 1981, researchers discovered seven wild crested ibises in the heart of the Qinling Mountains in Northwest China’s Shaanxi province. After years of breeding and conservation, the global population of crested ibises has increased to over 10,000.

China’s protection of crested ibises serves as a global model for saving endangered species, and significant progress has been made through the collaborative protection efforts of China and Japan. Thanks to this magical bird, I have also developed a deep bond with China.

In the late 20th century, wild crested ibises disappeared in Japan due to environmental degradation caused by economic development, illegal hunting, and other factors. The captive crested ibises also lost the ability to breed.

From 1998 to 2018, China gave seven crested ibises to Japan, helping the country rebuild the species. As a result, the number of captive crested ibises living on Sado island, Niigata prefecture, Japan, has been steadily increasing.

I have been engaged in crested ibis conservation, research, and rewilding programs on Sado Island since 2000. It was also in that year that a female ibis named Mei Mei gifted by China arrived in Japan. It received good care and protection in Japan and mated with Yuu Yuu, the offspring of two crested ibises, Yang Yang and You You, which were gifted by China in 1999. They went on to have many offspring together.

In 2007, Japan returned 13 young crested ibises to China, which were all descendants of Mei Mei and well protected in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve in Luoshan county, Xinyang city, central China’s Henan province.

Since then, I have been closely following news about the nature reserve, keen to learn more about these birds. I also hoped that one day I could visit the reserve and see them for myself.

In October 2017, I traveled to Tongchuan city, Shaanxi province to participate in an exchange event about crested ibis protection. While there, I received an invitation to the fourth crested ibis release event at the nature reserve and immediately changed my schedule. Upon arriving at the reserve, I visited a crested ibis breeding station and was impressed by the dedicated work of Chinese experts in protecting the species, which led to a significant increase in their population.

The facilities at the breeding station were very well-arranged to support the crested ibises’ growth and living conditions, while also offering visitors a memorable experience. I was filled with excitement when personally seeing the crested ibises that had returned to China from Sado Island ten years ago, along with their offspring, living peacefully.

I made a thorough observation of the environment and facilities, especially the living conditions of the crested ibises. I could not wait to share this information with my colleagues and friends in Japan.

The next morning, I joined the crested ibis release event hosted by the nature reserve. A total of 22 captive crested ibises returned to the nature, bringing the number of released ibises in the region to 100. From the initial few individuals to the large-scale release, this achievement embodies the tremendous efforts of Chinese experts.

The sight of the graceful crested ibises spreading their wings and flying high ignited a powerful feeling within me, as if I could already see a future where these birds soar freely in the skies of Northeast Asia.

A year later, I returned to the nature reserve to observe the breeding habits of crested ibises. At a crayfish farming ponds where crested ibises often forage, I saw an ibis feeding. Crested ibises enjoy eating crustaceans, and the vibrant colors of their feathers come from the chitin in these creatures. Through binoculars, I saw their beautiful plumage, which indicated that they were receiving good care and protection.

I also learned that local elementary schools often launch promotional campaigns about crested ibis conservation. I hope that Japanese and Chinese schools can engage in more exchanges and cooperation on crested ibis protection in the coming future.

Through my interactions with Chinese experts, I gained valuable insights into the conservation of crested ibis and the harmonious coexistence between the birds and the local community. The Chinese people’s hospitality and friendliness made a lasting impression on me throughout this process.

I am very much looking forward to visiting China again, the nature reserve in particular, to engage in more extensive discussions with Chinese experts about wild crested ibis monitoring and scientific research cooperation between Japan and China. I also hope to make due contributions to the conservation of crested ibis.

According to historical documents, the crested ibis was a migratory bird with a widespread presence across Northeast Asia. I believe that in the near future, with the collaborative efforts of people in Northeast Asian countries, these “birds of good fortune” will restore their migratory habits. They will then serve as a bridge and symbol of friendly exchanges among Northeast Asian countries.

 (Akio Nakajima is a researcher with the Institute of Human and Environmental Symbiosis Research, Dokkyo University)

By Prakash Bikram Shan, Gyanendra Khadkha（Nepal）

At the foot of the Gaoligong Mountains, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, the Nujiang River rushes out from a canyon. In the morning of early autumn, sunlight pierces through the clouds, gently falling on Xinzhai village along the river, where vast expanses of coffee trees shimmer with a golden hue.

In 2023, we came to China to participate in the Seminar on Coffee Planting and Processing Technology for Developing Countries organized by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Yunnan International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges. Our delegation set out from Baoshan city and after about an hour’s drive, we arrived at Xinzhai village, famously known as “the first coffee village in China.” Located by Lujiangba Valley at about 1,000 meters above sea level, it has the largest coffee plantation area among all Chinese administrative villages.

Wang Jiawei, Party chief of the village, warmly welcomed us at the village entrance early in the morning. He is affectionately dubbed the “coffee Party chief” by local coffee farmers for his pivotal role in the development of the village and its coffee industry.

According to Wang, Lujiangba Valley is the largest coffee-growing area in Baoshan, also the origin of Baoshan Arabica coffee. It has been growing coffee for half a century. Thanks to the ample sunlight and the typical dry-hot valley climate, the Arabica coffee produced there is strong and bitter, fragrant yet harsh with a slight fruity sourness, thereby enjoying a high reputation worldwide.

Stepping into Xinzhai village’s coffee plantations, we were greeted by lush coffee trees laden with plump and appealing fruit. Farmers there were busy harvesting coffee cherries, with their faces radiant with true happiness. The clean and smooth asphalt roads in the village were well-connected, with trucks loaded with coffee beans shuttling between purchasing stations and plantations. Many tourists were drawn to the hillside of the Gaoligong Mountains by the charm of the four rustic yet exquisite coffee estates, eager to experience the local coffee culture.

While marveling at the village’s development, we learned that it used to be an impoverished village without proper roads or communications facilities. The coffee industry there had been underdeveloped previously, leading to low productivity.

The village’s past conditions brought to our mind the similar small villages in our home country Nepal, which were becoming increasingly desolate due to declining population. Therefore, we were intrigued by the remarkable development of Xinzhai village and ventured further to explore its path of transformation. After extensive observation and conversations, we unraveled the mysteries behind the village’s progress.

Adopting region-specific planting methods to improve coffee yield and quality: The village divided its 500-plus households into nine groups, set up seven specialized farmers’ cooperatives, and designated 13,600 mu (about 907 hectares) of land as the core coffee production area. The previously disorganized farming methods were thereby transformed into large-scale and standardized planting, shifting the industrial structure from extensive to intensive development.

Meanwhile, the village dedicated itself to selecting superior coffee varieties and nurturing high-quality seedlings, while also widely adopting smart agricultural techniques to improve coffee cultivation.

Deploying digital infrastructure to expand sales channels: During our conversations with local coffee farmers, we found that 5G signals had been extended to high-altitude coffee fields, allowing farmers to sell their coffee products via livestreaming in the mountains.

“Our Arabica coffee grows in the misty forests. Feel free to choose, come and pick!” On one livestreaming platform, a farmer was selling coffee to followers, patiently answering their questions and offering personalized coffee purchase advice.

Promoting the integrated development of coffee agriculture and rural tourism: Walking through the village, we saw beautiful coffee-themed murals adorning houses and alleys, with the enticing coffee fragrance wafting from a nearby coffee culture center. Upon stepping inside the center, we felt surrounded by a sea of coffee beans drying under the sun. We even experienced hand-brewed coffee with the help of a barista, and the mellow and refreshing flavor left us feeling carefree and uplifted.

In our view, Xinzhai village, which has boosted its economic growth by developing the coffee industry, exemplifies the successful implementation of comprehensive rural revitalization in China.

Throughout our visits to different parts of China over the years, we have been captivated by the picturesque progress of China’s comprehensive rural revitalization. The policy support provided by the Chinese government has injected vitality into the industrial development of China’s rural areas.

These experiences offer valuable insights for Nepal to advance its rural development. We are looking forward to visiting more Chinese villages in the coming future, bringing these development experiences back to Nepal to help more Nepalese farmers live a happy and prosperous life.

(Prakash Bikram Shan is an editor at the Anumodan National Daily of Nepal; Gyanendra Khadkha is a coordinator with nepalkhabar.com)

By K. C. Ma (United States)

My bond with the Flying Tigers dates back to the 1980s, a time when China just started its reform and opening-up process, leading to a surge in foreign visitors and a growing need for interpreters. Leveraging my Chinese language proficiency, I started working as an accompanying interpreter for American tourists in China.

In the following years, I had the privilege of accompanying many veterans of Flying Tigers on their return visits to China, retracing the places where they had fought and lived.

Walking alongside these veterans and immersing myself in their daily lives, I came to understand their courageous acts and heard the stories of their wartime experiences. I was deeply moved by their stories and began to gather historical documents for research. I hope that the spirit of Flying Tigers will be carried on from generation to generation among Chinese and American peoples to reinforce the historical underpinning of people-to-people exchanges between our two countries.

To better facilitate the research, working together with my colleague, we started preparing for the establishment of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization in 2002, which was officially launched in 2007, primarily composed of Flying Tigers veterans, their families, and sponsors.

Throughout the years, we have been involved in building the Flying Tiger Heritage Park in Guilin, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and donated nearly 3,000 historical artifacts to the park, including a C-47 aircraft. During World War II, the Flying Tigers created “The Hump” airlift to transport much-needed supplies to China. More than 1,000 Chinese and American airmen lost their lives on this air route, with C-47 being their primary aircraft.

In 2015, we discovered this still operational C-47 aircraft in Australia and refurbished it for the purpose of recreating the historic “The Hump” airlift. We invited five pilots with exceptional C-47 experienced veterans from the United States (US) and Australia, with an average age of 71.8, to pilot this 72-year-old “vintage aircraft.”

In August 2016, the veterans started their journey from Australia. Over the course of 90 days, they flew across six countries, encountered two engine replacements, and made an emergency landing. Without navigation equipment, they relied entirely on manual piloting to navigate through the Himalayas. Finally, they arrived in Guilin. As they stepped out of the plane onto the Chinese ground, the airport erupted in applause. Everyone present was filled with excitement and admiration!

Since 2003, I have organized over 20 trips to China for Flying Tigers veterans and their families and friends, as well as enthusiasts of Flying Tigers history. Through these visits, I have experienced numerous emotions and witnessed the profound friendship between the Flying Tigers veterans and the Chinese people, a friendship that had withstood the test of blood and fire. These experiences have deeply engraved in my heart, reinforcing my commitment to carrying on the spirit of the Flying Tigers.

Over the years, there is one visit to China that has remained vivid in my memory. It was in March 2004 when I accompanied a group of 32 Flying Tigers veterans and their friends and families to China. Despite a long flight of over 10 hours, these elderly veterans showed no signs of fatigue. Their eyes were filled with excitement and determination as they set foot on Chinese soil, from which they had been separated for over 60 years.

We visited multiple places during the trip. In Shijiazhuang, capital of North China’s Hebei province, the veterans reunited with the Chinese guerrilla fighters who had previously saved them. They slowly made their way towards each other. Though only a few steps apart, for them it was a distance spanning decades. They embraced each other tightly, shaking hands with all their strength, and a flood of excited words burst forth, expressing the deep friendship forged in the fires of war.

During a subsequent gathering, a Chinese guerrilla veteran, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, showed us a photo he had cherished for many years – a group picture with Flying Tigers members. Following that, he began to recount a true story.

On a late autumn day in 1943, a plane flown by a pilot of the Flying Tigers was hit by the Japanese army, which forced him to parachute and land near the outskirts of Shijiazhuang.

The Japanese soldiers launched an extensive search for him. Promptly detecting the situation, nearby Chinese guerrilla fighters immediately initiated an emergency rescue mission. Due to the lack of natural hiding spots in the Haihe Plain where Shijiazhuang is located, the guerrilla fighters led him to a hidden underground tunnel.

Even in the tunnel, the searching sounds of Japanese troops could be heard from time to time. Hiding with them was a young woman with an infant. Due to the thin air, the baby cried incessantly, struggling to breathe. To prevent the Japanese soldiers from hearing any sound, the young woman tightly covered the baby’s mouth with her own hands until the soldiers left.

Eventually, the Flying Tigers member was successfully rescued, but the adorable baby lost its life due to suffocation, forever leaving its mother’s loving embrace. Later, the guerrilla fighters escorted the pilot through various challenges and safely brought him back to the main base camp.

As the story was told, all Flying Tigers veterans stood up to pay their respect with a moment of silence and a military salute, while the Chinese guerrilla veterans rose in response and returned the salute. They then held each other close in a tight embrace.

As the gathering came to close, the guerrilla veteran solemnly entrusted us with the important task of finding this pilot, an honorable mission we were proud to undertake. In our extensive search over the years, we have reviewed a large number of historical documents, hosted gatherings and birthday celebrations for Flying Tigers members and their families, and visited Flying Tigers veterans who are of similar age to the pilot, all in an effort to trace his whereabouts. Regrettably, we have not been able to fulfill this wish yet.

Even after two decades, the story I heard in Shijiazhuang still resurfaces frequently in my mind. I am determined to keep looking for this pilot, hoping that the old comrades have another chance to reunite.

For me, carrying on the invaluable legacy of Flying Tigers has become a mission I will pursue throughout my life. I will continue to tell the story of Flying Tigers, promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding between the US and China and deepening the friendship among Chinese and American peoples from generation to generation.