Mandarin ducklings. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Hangzhou's iconic West Lake welcomed a record 28 broods and 239 newly hatched mandarin duck chicks on June 7 — the highest number in recent years, local media outlets reported.

The milestone reflects the city's thriving biodiversity and the sustained efforts of local volunteers and authorities.

Since 2017, dedicated guardians have closely monitored duck breeding patterns, naming each brood and educating the public about respectful wildlife observation. From Hanghang and Xixi to Love, Peace, and Joy, the names symbolize ecological care and community values.

Volunteers instruct a car to yield to a group of crossing mandarin ducks. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The Mandarin Duck Guardians team, supported by local residents, park staff, and students, has been active for nine years. Their efforts — ranging from emergency rescues to ecological education — have raised survival rates and fostered public awareness. Today, it's common for ducks and people to share the lakeside peacefully.

Innovative ecological interventions, like installing "duck bridges" across lotus ponds, have helped ensure safe feeding areas for ducklings. These actions have made West Lake a year-round home for the once-seasonal birds.

Hangzhou's holistic conservation approach will take center stage when it hosts the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in September — the first in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

A park staff member rescues a chick from a tree hole. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

As the city prepares to share its biodiversity "Hangzhou model" with the world, the thriving mandarin duck population stands as a symbol of harmony between people and nature.

Mandarin ducks rest as visitors sit nearby. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Local bird lovers observe mandarin ducks. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Mandarin ducklings cross a makeshift bridge to get to the other side of a net. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]