Two hawk-owls once settled in a big tree hole, but it's empty now. (Photo/Beijing News)
(ECNS) -- Beijing police are investigating the disappearance of three nestlings under national protection from a tree at the Summer Palace, Beijing News reports.
Bird protection volunteer Tian said two brown hawk-owls settled in a big tree, with a trunk of about one meter in diameter, at the end of May, and later the pair had three chicks.
A picture provided by Tian showed three nestlings with grey and white feathers peeping from a hole.
She said she came to see the birds for about three hours a day while many photographers took pictures. Staff at the Summer Palace later set up a cordon and posters urging visitors not to disturb them.
The birds were discovered missing on July 3 while the hole was also empty, with cordon and posters gone.
Forest police in Haidian District have pledged to investigate the case.
Han Xiao, a lawyer with Beijing Kangda Law Firm, said the brown hawk-owl is an endangered animal in China under second-class protection and illegal hunting or killing of six birds could lead to a five to 10-year prison term.
