Photo taken on June 1, 2008 shows birds rest on the face of the world famous Sphinx of Egypt, which is under the threat of birds settling down on the statue's head and the shaded northern part and their acidic droppings, which have an erosive impact on the fragile stone. Some experts warn that rising groundwater levels endanger the monument, with water seeping into the stone and creating calcium deposits which are attracting an increasing number of birds. (Xinhua/Zhang Ning)
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