Historically, Xiaolong Mountain was home to crested ibises. In 2023, Gansu launched a crested ibis reintroduction project, introducing breeding stock from the Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve in neighboring Shaanxi province. A breeding base was subsequently established at Longmen forest farm in Xiaolong Mountain, where artificial breeding and rewilding training were conducted.

　　Through sustained protection and careful management, the population of crested ibises has grown from 20 introduced in 2023 to 50 in the forest farm, according to the Xiaolongshan Forestry Protection Center, which oversees the farm.

　　Wu Yuexuan contributed to the story.