Hornbill Research Foundation Nest Adoption: Application for Adoption Page 1 Page 2

Since 1978, the Thailand Hornbill Project has been actively conducting research on the biological and ecological aspects of hornbills and has expanded its research into the forests of western and southern Thailand. In the southern provinces including Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, the Project has received overwhelming cooperation from local villagers, who previously earned extra money (to add to their 1,500-3,000 baht approximately US$35-US$70 monthly income) by selling hornbill chicks stolen from their nests and other wild products. By having villagers to help in looking after the hornbills and collecting research data, the Project aims to create an awareness in hornbill conservation and the conservation of nature in general among local people.

Dr. Pilai Poonswad Recognized for Conservation of Thailand's Hornbills

Dr. Pilai Poonswad, a member of the Faculty of Science Department of Mahidol University has received the Chevron Conservation Award for 2006 and the ROLEX Award for Enterprise for 2006. Dr. Poonswad's work with the threatened and endangered hornbills of Thailand began in 1978 in Khao Yai National Park with the filming of a BBC Documentary and for almost 30 years, she has trekked and camped in forests to study how hornbills live their lives, what they eat, what their breeding needs are and what kills them, in the hope of conserving them. Dr. Poonswad set up the Thailand Hornbill Project to study the biology and ecology of hornbills in 1979. It later became the Hornbill Research Foundation, in 1993. Select the links above for additional information. An article (click HERE for PDF file) detailing her work recently appeared in Science Magazine.

Artificial Nest Structures in Use in Budo Sungai-Padi National Park

An extension of the Hornbill Research Foundation's (HRF) Nest Adoption Program is the installation of artificial nests in Budo Sungai-Padi National Park. Local villagers have assisted in the construction, installation, and monitoring of these nests. Design and installation of artificial nests is a collaborative project with Silpakorn University and Mr. Chakorn Pasuwan (lecturer of Department of Product Design, Faculty of Decorative Arts). Financial support is provided by the HRF, Silpakorn University, Swarovski Optics, Woodland Park Zoo, and Chester Zoo. Twenty-three artificial nests were installed in three forests. In 2005, four species (Great, Rhinoceros, Helmeted & Bar-pouched wreathed) came to the artificial nests, though none were used. In 2006, three species (GH, RH, and HH) checked the nests and a Great Hornbill was found with one chick. In 2007, two species (GH, RH) investigated nests. Two of 19 nests were used by Great Hornbills.

Conservation of the Rufous-necked Hornbill in Thailand:

Conservation of the Rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) and its montane forest habitat in Thailand is a project partially supported by Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, and Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana and is administered by Dr. Anak Pattanavibool, Wildlife Biologist Royal Forest Department and Dr. Pilai Poonswad, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Once found from Nepal to Vietnam, the Rufous-necked hornbill is extinct in parts of its range and barely hanging on in others. Hunting by local tribes and loss of habitat due to logging and agriculture are taking their toll. In Thailand, its last stronghold, fewer than a thousand birds remain in remote mountain regions. The montane evergreen forests are rapidly decreasing in Thailand.

The Ground Hornbill Research & Conservation Project: Kruger National Park (KNP):

Research started with the discovery of a nest in the summer of 1970. Following an intensive six-month field study this population, plus others with nests found, were visited almost annually until 1999. The main objective was to monitor the age and sex composition of study groups, and to record annual breeding success. The study was augmented by an annual aerial census by the KNP staff during the 1980s and early 90s. At the same time, the status of the species in S. Africa was estimated regularly in a series of three Red Data books, most recently in 2000, when the species was considered vulnerable, having been eliminated from 70% of its previous range with a total population in S. Africa estimated at 1500-2000 birds, about half in reserves, especially the KNP.

Philippine Hornbill Conservation Programme:

For a small country, the Philippines supports an astonishing diversity of hornbills. At least 9 species (of 4 genera) and 10 subspecies are recognised. All are endemic and all have relatively small (in some cases minuscule) ranges, with particular forms occurring only on particular islands or groups of islands that were formerly connected by land bridges. Unfortunately, given the gross extent of destruction of native forests, coupled with rampant hunting of these birds for food (hornbills are still regarded as a delicacy in some places, best eaten as finger-food or 'pulutan' during beer drinking parties) and the live bird trade, all Philippine hornbills are now regarded as threatened, some critically so. Indeed, the Philippines not only has more threatened hornbills than any other country in the world, but the regrettable distinction of the first known hornbill extinction, namely the Ticao tarictic (P. p. ticaensis) which was known only from Ticao Island, off Masbate.

Budo Hornbill Conservation & Education Center

Tapoh Village, Ruso District, Narathiwat Province is one of the many villages that surround Budo-Sungai Padi National Park in southern Thailand. Many of the villagers are nest guardians for the Hornbill Nest Adoption project co-ordinated by the Hornbill Research Foundation. In early 2004, the Conservation & Education Center was opened. This center will provide educational opportunities for school groups, villagers, and tourists. Lowry Park Zoo, Chester Zoo (UK), and Woodland Park Zoo have provided support for construction, equipment, and staffing of this Center. If anyone is interested in giving further support, contact Eric Kowalczyk at eric.kowalczyk@zoo.org for more information.

Mabula Ground Hornbill Project

The Project started in April, 1999, with the donation of 3 Southern Ground Hornbill juveniles, which had been harvested as ‘doomed’ second chicks from the Kruger National Park, to endeavour to release them into the wild. Ground Hornbills have lost many of the natural nests in the wild - the Mabula Project is replacing them with artificial nests so as to help stop the decline in the wild population of this awesome bird. During the next three years the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project plans to make and put up these artificial nest boxes in the Limpopo River Valley and other areas of South Africa to encourage breeding - where the lack of suitable nesting trees is one of the reasons for the decline in the population of this important flagship species.