Hornbills are iconic birds of tropical forests whose welfare is threatened by deforestation, illegal poaching for the pet trade, and the targeted hunting of helmeted hornbills for their solid casques.
Hornbills face welfare harms across multiple dimensions. Poaching causes acute suffering through trapping and killing; the targeted hunting of helmeted hornbills has devastated populations in Borneo and Sumatra. Habitat loss removes the old-growth trees hornbills need for nesting cavities, forcing birds into suboptimal habitats with reduced food and nesting success. The capture of wild hornbills for the pet trade causes injury during capture, transportation stress, and chronic suffering in inappropriate captive conditions. Female hornbills sealed in nesting cavities are particularly vulnerable during nesting seasons when their male partners are killed or disturbed. Conservation programmes that protect forest integrity, install artificial nest boxes, and work with local communities to reduce poaching represent the most effective welfare interventions.