According to Fa Cai Agricultural website, the water fowl is a second-grade protected animal, a bird that lives in swamps, near-water bushes and paddy fields for a long period of time, capable of flying for short distances, and is good at sneaking inside reeds and water plants, as well as swimming for a short period of time. The water fowl is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is not endangered. On August 1, 2000, it was listed on the List of Beneficial or Economically and Scientifically Important Terrestrial Wildlife under State Protection issued by the State Forestry Administration of China.