Oriental pied hornbill on decline

Noted for its exceptionally beautiful large beak, oriental pied hornbill sees a gradual decrease in our country mainly due to gradual loss of dense forests.  

“Only ten years ago, one would often come across this bird and hear its call in Lawacherra forest. But they are rarely seen now,” said Swapan Deb Sajal, director of Sreemanagl-based Bangladesh Bonyo Prani Seba Foundation, an organisation working for wildlife care.

“The birds have distinct yellow beaks. Their body is deep black. But the abdomen and tail is white,” he said.

“Oriental pied hornbill is hunted for the huge beak and big feathers. Besides, some unscrupulous kabiraj (herbal practitioner) in the rural areas use it for treatment of diseases,” he said.

“Locally called 'kao dhanesh', the bird measures 55 to 60 centimetres in length, and its scientific name is anthracoceros albirostris. Eminent bird researcher Salim Ali mentioned the bird in his book,” said Dr Monirul H Khan, professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University.

“The bird is still found in thick forests of greater Sylhet and Chittagong. Their main abode is in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and southern China,” he said.

“This bird is facing danger as the big trees of our hill forests are gradually decreasing, causing problem for biodiversity,” he said.

Environment activist Joly Paul, president of Lawacherra Bon O Jibo Boichitro Rakkha Andolon, said some of the wild birds are becoming extinct due to gradual loss of trees, especially the large ones, in Lawacherra forest.

“The oriental pied hornbill's food comprises wild fruits such as figs, palm fruit, papaya and fruits of flower plants. It also takes large insects, small birds, small reptiles and amphibians. Its food differs slightly between the breeding and non-breeding seasons,” said Tabibur Rahman, assistant conservator of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department in Moulvibazar.

The bird faces food crisis, habitat and reproduction problems following gradual loss of evergreen forests in our country, he said.

International Union for Conservation of Nature has put the bird species in 'least concern' category.