Rapid Fire
Hornbill Conservation Centre
- 24 Jul 2025
- 2 min read
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the establishment of India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR).
- Focus Hornbill Species: It will focus on conserving four species found in the Western Ghats i.e., Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Indian Grey Hornbill.
- Expansion: Alongside ATR, it will extend to Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and parts of Kanyakumari.
- Broader Conservation Strategy: This marks another milestone in Tamil Nadu's conservation journey, following the Dugong Conservation Reserve, Nilgiri Tahr Project, Slender Loris Conservation Centre, and AI-powered elephant conservation.
Hornbill
- About: Hornbills are large, wide-ranging, fruit-eating birds that primarily inhabit tropical forests (tall trees).
- Unique Traits: Hornbills have large curved beaks, booming calls, and distinctive wing beats.
- During breeding, the female seals a tree cavity, and the male feeds her through a narrow slit.
- Hornbill Species in India: India hosts 9 species, with 4 in the Western Ghats(Nature Conservation Foundation).
- The Great Hornbill is widely distributed, and the Narcondam Hornbill is endemic to Narcondam Island.
- Ecological Role: They serve as vital seed dispersers, earning the title “farmers of the forest,” and function as keystone species.
| Read More: Anamalai Tiger Reserve |
