Three Japanese crested ibises bred in captivity and being readied for release into the wild were transferred Wednesday to a larger cage.
The new environment, measuring 4,000 sq. meters, is quite a step up from the previous cage of 200 sq. meters. The birds are scheduled to be set free next year.
The large cage is designed by the Sado Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Center to resemble the natural habitat favored by wild ibises.
Wild crested ibises were virtually extinct as of January 1981, when the former Environment Agency captured the last five for artificial breeding.
The center in September released its first ibises in 27 years.
It plans to move another 12 ibises to the large cage next month.
