Endangered bird faints from hunger after failing to catch prey in China’s choking smog

The choking smog surrounding much of China is affecting not just humans but animals as well, causing an endangered bird to faint from hunger after failing to catch prey due to low visibility.

The hawk-like bird of prey, called a buteo, was found in a wheat field in northern China on Tuesday, lying still and looking weak, Dahe Daily reported.

Farmer Wang Xinchun found the bird in his field outside Qi county in Henan province.

Wang took the “large, unknown bird” home, handling the creature carefully as it struggled weakly. He tried to feed it with corn and raw meat, but the bird would not take the food.

“I was worried it might starve to death,” the farmer said.