A unique feature of eared-pheasants (Crossoptilon spp.) is that males and females are virtually identical, even more remarkable as the plumage is highly specialised and ornamental. [File Photo: arkive.org]

Zoologists said the brown-eared pheasant, an endangered species native to China, has multiplied rapidly in North China's Hebei Province thanks to the conservation efforts and improving ecological environment.

Their numbers have increased more than 200 percent in the past dozen years to top 3,000 in the province, said experts with wildlife protection department of the Hebei Provincial Forestry Bureau.

It's estimated that there are no more than 15,000 brown-eared pheasants spread across the country.

Ten years ago the pheasants were only found in the lesser Wutai Mountains in Yuxian and Zhuolu counties, but in recent years they have been spotted in nearby Laiyuan and Laishui counties, experts said.

In 1985 the state turned the lesser Wutai Mountain in a 22,000-hectares nature reserve. The local government also carried out a widespread awareness-raising campaign on protecting the species and its natural habitat.

"These efforts have contributed significantly to the increase in the fowl's population," said an official with the provincial forestry bureau.

Brown-eared pheasant, about 100 centimeters long, mainly live in mountainous areas with an elevation between 1,600 to 1,800 meters in Hebei, Shanxi and around Beijing. They inhabit areas covered by shrubs.

The fowl has dark brown feather on most part of its body and white feather on its tail. They forage on plants and insects and their natural enemies include the eagle, wolf and fox.

The fowl are under state top-level protection.

Experts said the fowls numbers decreased rapidly due to destruction of their habitat and poaching.

To better protect the brown-eared pheasant Hebei plans to build within the next three years, three more nature reserves covering an area of 117,167 hectares.