STUDBOOK: Sulawesi wrinkled hornbill, Aceros cassidix

The first edition of the North American Regional Aceros studbook was current through 31 December 1999. Since then, 2 annual updates were distributed to participants. A second edition will be current through 31 December 2002 and will be printed early in 2003.

In the past 3 years, the captive status of the 5 species of Aceros covered in this regional studbook remained relatively stable. This means that births and imports approximately equaled deaths and exports. Whether this is good or just satisfactory will be better known when the Population Management Plan (PMP) for this genus is completed. With a PMP, we will set goals for optimum number of birds for each species. The preliminary analysis is that we should at least recommend for PMP status, Aceros corrugatus. We might not have enough available spaces to provide for a long term, genetically diverse, self-sustaining captive population for any of the remaining 4 species. The following listing show the numbers of current living birds at the end of the past three years.

Aceros cassidix:	9.10.0 (19) in 8 institutions as of 31 December 1999
	10.9.0 (19) in 8 institutions as of 31 December 2000
	10.9.1 (20) in 8 institutions as of 31 December 2001
Aceros corrugatus:	30.33.3 (65) in 24 institutions as of 31 December 1999
	33.31.1 (65) in 24 institutions as of 31 December 2000
	32.29.1 (62) in 26 institutions as of 31 December 2001
Aceros leucocephalus:	2.2.0 (4) in 2 institutions as of 31 December 1999
	2.2.0 (4) in 2 institutions as of 31 December 2000
	2.1.0 (3) in 2 institutions as of 31 December 2001
Aceros plicatus :	10.8.0 (18) in 8 institutions as of 31 December 1999
	10.7.0 (17) in 8 institutions as of 31 December 2000
	10.7.0 (17) in 8 institutions as of 31 December 2001
Aceros undulatus :	16.18.0 (34) in 13 institutions as of 31 December 1999
	16.17.0 (33) in 12 institutions as of 31 December 2000
	14.17.1 (32) in 13 institutions as of 31 December 2001

SUMMARY for 2001:

In 2001, we had three new breeding pairs. At Los Angeles Zoo, the pair has bred for the first time. The female had been a great breeder at Woodland Park Zoo and has several surviving offspring. The male is a first time successful breeder. The birds at San Diego Zoo are first time breeders. The breeding at Audubon Park and Zoological Garden represents the first time a F1 bird (male was 5 years old) has bred. This male hatched at Woodland Park Zoo in 1996. Although the nestling did not survive, this is encouraging for developing a self-sustaining captive population.

Similarly, good news came from Woodland Park Zoo where two young birds have shown interest. The female hatched in 1997 and has been almost daily, spending short periods of time inside the nest cavity.

The breeding pair at the San Diego Wild Animal Park has been successful in past years. Unfortunately in 2001, the nestling did not survive.

Hornbills are large, long lived species and the limiting resource is “space” to develop a long-term, self-sustaining captive population. If PMPs are developed for all 5 species in this studbook, the birds will be competing against one another for this limited space. Since Aceros corrugatus has the largest captive population (62 birds), it makes most sense to prioritize this species for a PMP.

If space can be found, it makes sense to also consider Aceros cassidix for a PMP. As of 31 December 2001, there were 10.9.1 birds in the North American regional studbook. Of the 5 species covered in this studbook, Aceros cassidix has the highest percentage of successful/potentially successful breeding pairs. In addition, there are no unknowns in this population and all birds can be included in PMP analyses.