Thailand Hornbills
Hornbills are large birds that are well known as “keystone species”.
There are two key factors which are threatening hornbill survival in Thailand; the loss of forest area due to illegal logging, and poaching.
The Hornbill Research Foundation is working to save the hornbills of Thailand, focusing on the birds below:
Rufous-necked Hornbill - (Aceros nipalensis) Vulnerable
Bushy-crested Hornbill - (Anorrhinus galeritus) Least concerned
White-crowned Hornbill - (Berenicornis comatus) Near threatened
Great Hornbill - (Buceros bicornis) Near threatened
Rhinoceros Hornbill - (Buceros rhinoceros) Near threatened
Helmeted Hornbill - (Rhinoplax vigil) Near threatened
Wreathed Hornbill - (Rhyticeros undulates) Least concerned
Chester Zoo has been supporting this work since 2001 and we currently support both the Hornbill Nest Adoption scheme and the Budo Hornbill Conservation and Education Centre, which led on from the success of the adoptions. The education centre provides educational and conservation lessons to school teachers, children, teenagers and villagers in the surrounding area. Since the start of the projects run by the Hornbill Research Foundation, there has been a decrease in hornbill poaching. Local people have been educated on the importance of hornbill conservation, and are employed to protect the nests and monitor the populations. We support this project in partnership with Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle.
Photographs courtesy of the Hornbill Research Foundation.