A white-bellied heron, a critically endangered bird, was recently spotted in Kachin State of northern Myanmar, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday, according to Xinhua.

Phong San Dakaw, a member of the Native Species Conservation and Identification (NSCI) in Myanmar, recently recorded the critically endangered species in Kachin State, according to the report.

The species is mainly found in Bhutan, Myanmar and India, the report cited an NSCI official U Thet Zaw Naing as saying.

U Thet Zaw Naing said local poachers hunt this bird and sell it for meat, resulting in only about 40 remaining in the Southeast Asian country, adding that they are only found in Kachin State and Sagaing Region in Myanmar.

The bird is currently rarer than the Irrawaddy dolphin, leopard and red panda in the country and could become extinct in five years if without protection, the report said.

The white-bellied heron, mostly dark grey with a white throat and underparts, lives in undisturbed rivers and wetlands and has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2007.