1958 sparrow cull linked to locust plague

In 1958, Mao Zedong's government targeted sparrows under the nationwide Four Pests Campaign to protect crops.

Millions of citizens were mobilized to destroy nests, break eggs, and drive sparrows from the skies.

The campaign overlooked that sparrows also consumed insects that damaged crops.

As sparrow populations plummeted, agricultural pests faced fewer natural predators, worsening infestations.

The ecological miscalculation contributed to pressure on China's farms during the Great Leap Forward.