In News:

In a rare and ecologically significant event, the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Kerala’s State Bird, was recently spotted in the coastal belt of Kakkampara, near Ezhimala in Kannur district. This area lies well outside the species’ typical forested habitats, making the sighting both unusual and important for biodiversity assessments.

About the Great Hornbill

• The Great Hornbill, also known as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the largest members of the hornbill family.
• It is primarily found in the Western Ghats, forests along the Himalayas, and parts of Southeast Asia.
• Its preferred habitat includes wet evergreen and moist deciduous forests at elevations between 600 to 2000 meters.
• This large, vividly colored bird measures between 95 to 120 cm in length with a wingspan of 151 to 178 cm, and typically weighs around 3 kilograms.
• The hornbill is easily identifiable by its prominent casque, a hollow structure on top of its large yellow bill. Males and females look similar, although males can be distinguished by their red irises and slightly larger casques, whereas females have white irises.
• Hornbills are primarily frugivorous, feeding on a variety of forest fruits, especially figs. However, they are opportunistic and may also consume small reptiles, birds, and mammals.
• A distinctive feature of the Great Hornbill is the tinted oil secreted by its preen gland, which gives its feathers, bill, and casque a yellow to reddish hue during grooming.

Conservation Status and Legal Protection

• The Great Hornbill is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, hunting, and fragmented populations.
• In India, it is provided the highest level of protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making it illegal to hunt or trade the species.

Ecological Importance of the Ezhimala Sighting

The occurrence of the Great Hornbill in a coastal region far from its usual forest range is considered a valuable ecological indicator. Experts believe such sightings could hint at changing habitat patterns, microhabitat availability, or even displacement due to habitat disturbance in core forest areas. The area around Ezhimala, despite human habitation, appears to sustain enough ecological richness to attract such a rare forest species.