India’s First Hornbill Conservation Centre Set Up in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, July 22– In a major step to protect biodiversity, the Tamil Nadu government has announced India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation. The centre will be set up at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district.

Hornbills play a key role in forest health by spreading seeds, earning them the nickname “farmers of the forest”. But they are in danger due to deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change.

To help save them, the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests is investing Rs 1 crore from the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund. The centre will focus on four hornbill species found in the Western Ghats:

• Great Hornbill

• Malabar Pied Hornbill

• Malabar Grey Hornbill

• Indian Grey Hornbill

The centre’s work will include:

• Mapping hornbill habitats

• Watching nesting sites

• Scientific studies

• Climate change impact checks

• Replanting native trees like fig and canarium, which hornbills feed on

A government order from Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, said ATR was chosen because of its rich wildlife, successful conservation work, and existing efforts to protect animals like tigers, elephants, and lion-tailed macaques.

The project will also involve local communities through:

• Nest adoption schemes

• Student scholarships

• Jobs like seed collection and eco-tourism

It will offer educational visits, training for forest staff, and public outreach.

The centre will work with top conservation groups, including:

• Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History

• Nature Conservation Foundation

• Wildlife Institute of India

• IUCN Hornbill Specialist Group

The government also plans to expand hornbill conservation to other areas such as:

• Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)

• Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR)

• Kanyakumari district

There, the focus will be on habitat mapping, tree tagging, studying flowering and fruiting seasons, and community-based conservation.

This new centre is a big move to protect hornbills and help forests thrive in Tamil Nadu and beyond.