KUNMING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A critically endangered duck was spotted in the wetlands of southwest China's Yunnan Province, according to local authorities.

Staff at the administration center of Qinghuahai National Wetland Park found a Baer's pochard in the city of Baoshan on Jan. 9. It is listed as a critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The wetland park first reported observing the species in 2020.

Baoshan has launched conservation projects for the restoration of wetlands in recent years. The number of bird species in the park has increased from 172 in 2016 to 279 today. Enditem