XI'AN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Seven crested ibis chicks have hatched in the Qianhu Wetlands in northwest China's Shaanxi Province since April 28, the nature reserve said.

The population of the endangered bird species, once believed to be extinct in China, has been growing in recent years thanks to decades of conservation.

Captive-bred ibis were released into the Qianhu Wetlands in Baoji city in September 2014. About 30 crested ibis have been observed in the reserve recently.

To ensure the safety of the ibis chicks, the reserve has taken multiple measures including dispatching rangers to prevent human interference.

Crested ibis are found in China, Japan, Russia, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The current population exceeds 2,600 in China, including about 1,800 in the wild.

About 2,000 crested ibis live in in Shaanxi Province. Their habitat stretches around 14,000 square kilometers.