The present study was designed to try a possible release to the wild of the
captive-bred crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) using an aviary (flight cage).
A special attention was paid to ensure parental characteristics of human-h
and-reared birds. Successful result was obtained when parental birds (male
and female) were kept far from other breeding birds in captivity. This expe
riment suggests a possibility of releasing of human-hand-reared birds to th
e wild which may contribute to the increase of population size of the crest
ed ibis in the future.