Latest news with #GreatHornbill
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
TN to set up centre for conservation of hornbill
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has approved the establishment of a centre of excellence for hornbill conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), Coimbatore. The decision follows a proposal by the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden. A sum of Rs 1 crore from the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund has been allocated to support this initiative in the Western Ghats, a region home for four hornbill species, including the Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Indian Grey Hornbill. The centre will conduct research, restore habitats, and engage communities to address threats like habitat loss and climate change. It will monitor hornbill populations and their habitat use, using methods like distance sampling and GPS telemetry to track seasonal movements. Studies on foraging and nesting ecology will inform restoration efforts, said Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department, in a G.O. issued on Monday. The centre will also map food and nest trees to identify areas for conservation and restoration. It will establish a nursery for native species like Ficus and Syzygium to restore degraded forests and install artificial nest boxes to support breeding.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu to set up hornbill conservation centre at Anamalai Tiger Reserve
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the establishment of India's first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district. An official release said hornbills, often known as 'farmers of the forest', play a crucial ecological role as seed dispersers, helping regenerate native forests. However, these keystone species are increasingly threatened by deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the impacts of climate change. Hence, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests has sanctioned ₹1 crore under the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund to establish the Centre. The Centre will focus on four hornbill species found in the Western Ghats — the Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Indian Grey Hornbill. Activities will include habitat mapping, nest monitoring, scientific research, climate impact assessments, and restoration of degraded forest areas by planting native trees such as fig and canarium that support hornbill populations. The G.O. issued by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, said that Anamalai Tiger Reserve was selected for its ecological richness, existing conservation infrastructure, and for its track record in protecting endangered species including tigers, elephants, lion-tailed macaques, and other endemic wildlife. The initiative also places a strong emphasis on community participation. Local residents will be involved in conservation efforts through nest adoption programmes, scholarships for students, and sustainable livelihoods such as seed collection. Additionally, the project will offer capacity-building programmes for forest staff and host awareness activities including field visits for school children and community outreach. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will collaborate with leading national and international organisations, including the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Nature Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Institute of India, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Hornbill Specialist Group. In addition to ATR, similar hornbill conservation activities will be undertaken in other landscapes such as the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), and parts of Kanyakumari district. These efforts will include habitat mapping, geotagging of trees, phenological studies, and community-based conservation initiatives.
Mint
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
A wild harmony: Nilgiris documentary captures nature's quiet resilience
In an era of digitally manufactured visuals and AI-generated nature scenes, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness stands out as a real, patient, and visually arresting documentary. Directed by Sandesh Kadur and produced by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, it is India's first feature-length wildlife documentary to get a theatrical release—and one that deserves to be seen on the big screen. The film camera can be a magical thing. The Sony RED delivers unforgettable visual callisthenics, capturing the shifting moods of the Nilgiris with stunning clarity. The cinematography—by Kadur, Nakul Raj, Robin Conz, Sameer Jain and Parinith Gowda—effortlessly traverses gorges and waterfalls, clouds, and mist, and the drama of animals in their natural habitat. Yet, what matches its visual grandeur is the quiet message the film unspools: modern wildlife, and the wildlife of our futures, is not hidden or distant. We co-exist with it. Among the standout moments: a Salea lizard, found only in the Nilgiris, weaving through garden undergrowth in a private Ooty bungalow; a tiger resting atop a hill, human habitation twinkling below. Moments like these took several months to capture, Kadur says. Shot over three years and edited from 400 hours of footage—from CCTV, trap cams, and handheld cameras—the film is relentless and patient in its observation of the often-overlooked dramas in the blue mountains. Rohini Nilekani, chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and executive producer, calls it one of her passion projects. She joined the crew on a few shooting trips herself. The highlight for her: 'It was magical to watch the cubs play out in the open, surrounded by tea, so trusting of the humans around them. I was in awe," Nilekani says, recalling the sight of a mother leopard and her four cubs—two of them melanistic black leopards. For Kadur, who has previously directed a documentary on the Western Ghats, the shoot had its own serendipitous moments. One of the most powerful scenes features a Great Hornbill chick struggling out of its nest and emerging into the world for the first time. Nilekani and her family bought a second home in the Nilgiris 20 years ago. Realising that there was no substantial documentation of the region's human-wildlife co-existence, she, her husband Nandan Nilekani, and Kadur—a long-time friend—decided to begin work on the film. 'Maybe with so much wildlife now outside protected areas, we need to create a new culture of protection. For that, we have to understand how beautiful and critical our biodiversity is, we have to fall in love with it. Human thriving is dependent on the enhancement of our forests, our flora and our fauna. Our water, future medicines, and future technologies are hidden in our natural heritage, waiting to be discovered," Nilekani says. 'Where else in the world can you have black leopards, gaur, sloth bear, living in a tea garden? Although it's in a constant state of change, it also shows nature's resilience; adaptability to survive the odds if we allow them the space to do so," Kadur says, about their shared worldview. The environment and climate are among the largest focus areas in the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies portfolio, with the organisation supporting several institutions across India—including in the Nilgiris. 'This is my first time as an executive producer. I really enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot. I hope young children, who are the future trustees of our biodiversity, will watch this film," says Nilekani. Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness is currently screening in select theatres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Kochi and other cities. Student tickets are available at a discount. Most nature documentaries in recent decades have focused on the damage caused by human expansion and the looming extinction of wild species. This film offers something different: a story of hope, fragility, and interconnectedness. In the Nilgiris, wildlife spills beyond forests into tea gardens and private homes. Leopards and gaur are seen cohabiting with humans. While global wildlife numbers are in decline, the Nilgiris present what Kadur calls a 'reverse story." In scope, sentiment, and execution, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness is a magnificent outlier—one to be savoured on the big screen. The documentary released in theatres on Friday. Sanjukta Sharma is a Mumbai-based journalist.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Rare Great Hornbill sighting in Ezhimala sparks hope for biodiversity
In a rare and remarkable sighting, the Malamuzhakki Vezhambal (Great Hornbill), Kerala's State bird, was spotted in the coastal belt of Kakkampara, near Ezhimala in Kannur, an area far from its usual forested habitats. The bird was first observed perched on a fig-laden Ficus exasperata tree on May 24 and later flew towards the Ezhimala Naval Academy's forecasted campus. Birdwatchers Manoj Karingamathil, P. Jameela and Abhinav Jeevan, a student of the Forestry department in Sir Syed College, Taliparamba, confirmed the sighting and said the bird spotted was a male. The hornbill remained in the area for about two weeks, foraging from fruit-bearing trees and occasionally flying to neighbouring regions, said Mr. Manoj. He said the bird was first noticed by Abhinav's relatives, who without knowing the rarity of the bird sighting, used its photos as WhatsApp status. When the photos came to the notice of Abhinav, he immediately informed us, said Mr. Manoj. Habitats Typically found in Kerala's evergreen and moist deciduous forests such as the Silent Valley, Nelliampathy, Athirappilly, Aralam and Parambikulam, the Hornbill is rarely seen in coastal areas, he said, adding that its unexpected presence is hailed as an ecological indicator. There were very few reports of the birds being sighted near forest regions of the Aralam and Karimbam farms. However, there is no public documentation, he claimed. Ramanthali grama panchayat president V. Shyma said the sighting is significant proof that the region remains a biodiversity hotspot despite human habitation. 'This reflects the ecological richness of the area,' she said. Call for further studies Sneha Subhash, head of the Department of Forestry, Sir Syed College, emphasised the need for further studies on the Great Hornbil's movement to coastal hills. 'Such occurrences near the sea are unusual and point to the broader ecological value of the region,' she said. Listed as Endangered by the IUCN and protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, the Great Hornbill's appearance in Ezhimala has sparked both excitement and renewed calls for conservation efforts in the area.
DW
10-06-2025
- General
- DW
Nagaland's Konyak tribe rethinks tradition to save wildlife – DW – 06/10/2025
Traditional hunting and slash-and-burn practices were emptying the forests of Nagaland, but one village has become a model for conservation. In the remote village of Changlangshu, deep in the hills of Nagaland, a quiet transformation is underway. Home to the Konyak Nagas—once proud traditional hunters—this secluded community is rewriting its relationship with nature. For generations, hunting was a way of life, passed down through families like that of Wanmai Konyak. But as the forests grew silent and wildlife vanished, Wanmai began to question the legacy he inherited. A New Vision for the Forest Inspired by a visit to a Himalayan village practicing conservation, Wanmai returned home with a mission. He formed a biodiversity management committee and led efforts to restore three forest patches where birds like the Great Hornbill once thrived. Hunting was banned in these areas, and over 3,000 saplings were planted. While traditional slash-and-burn farming, or jhum, continues around the site, the restoration zone remains protected. The initiative has sparked a cultural shift—introducing the concept of conservation to a community where it was once unknown. Today, the restoration site is more than a forest—it's a classroom. Young educators like H. Eangba teach children to observe and appreciate the life within a single tree. Students become volunteers, nurturing saplings and learning to see the forest not as a hunting ground, but as a living ecosystem. Cultural ecologist Nayantara Siruguri is helping integrate local language and customs into environmental education, ensuring the message resonates deeply. Though hunting still occurs, it's decreasing among the younger generation. Wanmai, once a hunter himself, now dreams of seeing pangolins, civets, and wild cats return. In Changlangshu, the seeds of change have been planted—and a new generation is growing up not as hunters, but as stewards of the wild.
