India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation

The Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant step in wildlife conservation by announcing the establishment of India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation. This pioneering initiative will be located at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in the Coimbatore district.

Hornbills, often referred to as “farmers of the forest,” are ecologically crucial species due to their role as seed dispersers, which is vital for the regeneration of native forests. However, these keystone species are facing increasing threats from deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the impacts of climate change.

To address these challenges, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests has sanctioned ₹1 crore (10 million Indian Rupees) from the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund for the establishment of this Centre.

The Centre will primarily focus on four hornbill species found in the Western Ghats:

• The Great Hornbill
• The Malabar Grey Hornbill
• The Malabar Pied Hornbill
• The Indian Grey Hornbill

The Anamalai Tiger Reserve was chosen as the ideal location for this Centre due to its rich ecological diversity, existing robust conservation infrastructure, and its proven track record in protecting other endangered species such as tigers, elephants, lion-tailed macaques, and various endemic wildlife.

The initiative aims to address conservation challenges through scientific research, habitat restoration, and community engagement. Activities will include habitat mapping, nest monitoring, scientific research, climate impact assessments, and the restoration of degraded forest areas by planting native trees like fig and canarium that support hornbill populations.

(Source: TH)