Why in News?
The Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) is a medium-sized, striking black-and-white bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Recently significant conservation breakthroughs and a major 2026 bird survey in the Western Ghats.
About
- Vazhachal Bird Survey: A three-day scientific survey in Kerala's Vazhachal Forest Division recorded active nesting of the Malabar Pied Hornbill, highlighting the region as a "hornbill paradise" with high avian diversity.
- "Hornbill Restaurants": The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has established six "hornbill restaurants" in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) to provide dedicated feeding sites and promote the natural expansion of the rare species.
- Tamil Nadu Conservation Drive: The Tamil Nadu government recently launched a long-term survey (running until April 2026) and established India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve to protect this species and its habitat.
- Community Success: A two-decade-long initiative involving the Kadar tribal community in Kerala has successfully restored local populations to nearly 100 individuals across 12 nesting sites.
Key Information
- Appearance: Distinctive black plumage with a white belly, throat patch, and tail sides. It features a large yellow bill topped with a prominent black casque.
- Sexual Dimorphism: Males have black skin around the eye and red eyes, while females have white/pale blue orbital skin and are generally smaller.
- Distribution: Found in three distinct regions: the Western Ghats, parts of Central and Eastern India (Odisha, Chhattisgarh), and Sri Lanka.
- Diet: Primarily frugivorous (fruit-eating), with figs making up about 60% of their diet. They are also opportunistic omnivores, eating small reptiles, insects, and mammals.
- Ecological Role: Known as "farmers of the forest" because they are vital seed dispersers, aiding in the regeneration of tropical forest ecosystems.
- Unique Breeding: The female seals herself inside a tree cavity using a paste of mud and droppings, leaving only a tiny slit. The male feeds her and the chicks through this slit for several weeks.
- Conservation Status:
- Major Threats: Habitat loss due to deforestation, the decline of large nesting trees, and poaching for meat or traditional medicinal beliefs.
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