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Saving the Hornbills

Hornbill TAG

 

Since the beginning of 2015 our park has been supporting the EAZA Hornbill Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). The mission of this group is to coordinate the effective management of hornbills within zoos and to promote conservation actions for their protection in the wild.

 
 

Hornbills are seriously threatened due to habitat loss and hunting for their casque, which is used as traditional headgear or sold as a decorative item. Between 2012 and 2014, some 2,207 casques of the Helmeted hornbill were confiscated in the black market and it is believed that over 10,000 were poached and illegally smuggled into China. 

 

Some species, such as the Sulu hornbill of the Philippines, are extremely rare, with perhaps less than 40 birds still living in the wild. Hornbill species that are so close to extinction may possibly only be saved by specialized rescue centers and zoos through conservation breeding programs.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                         

 

Help the hornbills:

- find out who hornbills are by reading and participating in our activities

- spread the word, use hashtag #HornbillDay and upload a hornbill as your profile picture

- donate to projects in the field (see information below) 

- download the educational package that we have prepared and complete it at home and/or in school!

- follow the links below for more resources 

 

 

Hornbill Education Resources: 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Park supports the following programs:
 

Mabula Ground Hornbill Project in Southern Africa (Click here to learn more)


Attica Zoological Park as coordinator of the European studbook for the Southern ground hornbill is also supporting the Mabula Ground hornbill project in Southern Africa. The Mabula project works towards increasing the population of wild ground hornbills in
Africa, as this species is now declining in numbers due to habitat loss, a lack of suitable nesting trees and poisoning. Our Park supports financially the campaign for the realisation of this major project.

 

See how you can help here!

 

“Adopt a nest” program in India and Thailand


The aim of the program is to conserve the hornbill populations that live in the area, by providing financial support to assist villagers in their long-term efforts to protect the nests of hornbills, hereby minimalizing the risk that poachers collect the female hornbill with her
chicks, or perhaps chop down the nesting tree. Our Park has already adopted 4 nests.