Chapter: National Issues

Topic: Evergreen Hornbills

Q. How many species of hornbills are found in India and what are the concerns about them?

Ans. Nine species of these large birds are found in India, mainly in the Northeast and the Western ghats;
Narcondam island in the Andamans hosts the critically endangered Narcondam hornbill. Accelerating habitat loss threatens its future.
It is protected at the highest level under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. However, hunting has depleted populations.
In the Western Ghats, the proposed hydroelectric project at Athirapilly across the Chalakudy River will destroy precious landscape sheltering the species, and three others — the Malabar pied, the Malabar grey, and Indian grey hornbills. This area is part of the Athirapilly-Vazhachal-Chalakudy riverine region, a biodiversity hotspot.
The abundance of hornbill species depends heavily on the availability of suitable fruit and nesting trees.
Hornbill conservation must proceed along the twin paths of weaning away tribal hunters. Through the provision of substitutes, and nursing forest fragments back to health using science.

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