Wildlife

Great Hornbill Welfare in Asian Forests

Great hornbills are large, ecologically important forest birds facing habitat loss and hunting for casques used in ornamental carving across their Asian range.

Key Facts

Great hornbills have casques made of solid keratin that are carved into ornaments
The casque trade is driving hunting pressure across their range
They are classified as Vulnerable with declining populations
Great hornbills seal their nesting females into tree cavities during breeding
They require old-growth trees with large hollow cavities for nesting

Welfare Considerations

Hunting for casques involves shooting large birds causing traumatic injury and death. Females sealed in cavities die if the male partner is killed during the nesting period. Old-growth logging removes the specific large hollow trees essential for breeding. Hornbills in forest fragments cannot maintain territories large enough for adequate food. Their slow reproduction means any additional mortality has significant population effects.

What You Can Do

Support hornbill nesting monitoring and protection programs in Thailand and India
Donate to Forest Department programs protecting old-growth forest with hornbills
Advocate for enforcement against hornbill casque trade
Support nest box programs supplementing natural tree cavities
Engage with the Asian wildlife trade enforcement network on hornbill protection