Loss of habitat is the biggest cause of the dwindling numbers of China's wildlife, topping disturbances from major construction projects near nature reserves and direct human interference. 

A research by the State Forestry Administration (SFA) revealed that out of the 14 wildlife animals under study, the population of two species decreased. The Forestry Administration enlisted the help of more than 270 people from 80 research institutes, nature reserves, and colleges in the country for this study. 

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The research was concluded at the end of 2014. 

"Our analysis shows that 34.69 percent of species have been threatened by all kinds of habitat loss, including disturbances, destruction, segmentation and degradation. It's a threat more serious than other threats," said Yan Xun, chief engineer of SFA's wildlife conservation.

At a press conference last week Thursday, the SFA said that the Central Asian tortoise and the Mangshan pit viper had significantly decreased in number compared to the first survey launched in 1995. 

Populations of the rufous-backed bunting, Chinese alligator, qinling pit viper, plateau pit viper, and Chinese pit viper were stable. Meanwhile, numbers of the Hainan black-crested gibbon, crested ibis, black grouse, Chinese crocodile lizard, Black-faced spoonbill, and the relict and Saunders' gull increased. 

The Crested ibis, a water bird that can only be found in China, rose from only 147 in 1995 to 1,549 in the survey. Black-faced spoonbills increased from nine to 28, and its wintering population grew from 120 birds to 294. 

TagsHabitat loss in China, China's wildlife conservation, State Forestry Administration