Has the Egret in the Rime Been Saved?  

— The Story of the Frozen Egret Rescued by the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center

Jade-like branches and trees clad in frost and snow,  Warmth amid the cold night shelters life below. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, as the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center was transformed into a frosty wonderland by a blanket of rime, a heartwarming search spanning day and night quietly unfolded. Staff from the hospital’s security department braved the biting wind and snow, using drone precision positioning and manual grid searches to tirelessly locate two lone egrets that had failed to migrate south with their flock. As of this report, the search operation continues unabated. This unwavering commitment to protecting nature’s creatures, amid temperatures plunging below minus ten degrees Celsius, weaves a moving tale where life and compassion intertwine.

Rewinding to the afternoon of New Year’s Day, a doctor who had just finished an MDT consultation noticed something unusual by the lakeside reeds: two egrets lingering on the ice, showing no signs of migrating south. Out of concern for their lives, the doctor immediately reported the situation to the hospital's security department. Upon receiving the message, the hospital's security department responded swiftly, activating an emergency plan. Staff members, equipped with drones, emergency feed, thermal blankets, and temporary nesting boxes, rushed to the scene without delay to begin the search.

The lakeshore within the hospital grounds is densely covered with reeds, and the rime obstructs visibility, while the dim light of deep night adds to the challenge of the search operation. Staff members maneuvered drones into the air, their searchlight beams slicing through the quiet night like sharp blades. Against the snowy landscape, security personnel meticulously scanned every stretch of water and patch of shrubbery. On the ground, even as the biting wind whipped fine snow into their faces, stinging with cold, and their fingers grew red and stiff from the freezing temperatures, they kept a firm grip on the drone controllers, afraid of missing even the slightest trace of the egrets. "The drones have already had their batteries replaced three times," a search team member shared during a break. "Our team is working in shifts, advancing step by step, gradually expanding the search from the core areas of the hospital grounds to the surrounding green spaces and water bodies. We are determined not to give up."

As of now, this heartwarming search operation has persisted for over ten hours. The hospital's security department has organized multiple search teams, conducting systematic grid-by-grid sweeps across designated zones and time periods, demonstrating their reverence for life with every step they take.

The rime has yet to melt, yet the warmth of compassion runs deep. This mission to protect the egrets not only reflects a profound care and reverence for all living beings in nature but also highlights the deep sense of responsibility held by the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center toward ecological harmony and the preservation of natural life—even as it advances cutting-edge heavy ion medical technology and safeguards human health. The hospital will continue to dedicate resources to the search efforts, striving to the utmost to ensure the safety and survival of the egrets. At the same time, we call on the general public and residents in the surrounding areas: if you spot any traces of the egrets, please promptly contact the hospital's security department. Let us work together to build a warm, solid barrier of safety for these two "white spirits," allowing the light of life to shine brightly even amid the icy chill of winter.