Gujarat’s Reintroduction Project on Grey Hornbill

Why in News?

Recently, Grey Hornbill has recorded four consecutive years of successful breeding following its reintroduction in the Gir landscape.

• Indian Grey Hornbill reintroduction programme – The initiative was undertaken by the Gujarat Forest Department and its conservation partners.

• Reintroduced in – 2021
• Source Population – The birds were translocated from healthy hornbill populations in Gujarat’s Aravalli forests after extensive habitat assessments confirmed that Gir shall provide suitable ecological conditions.
• Phased Release – A total of 40 hornbills was introduced to Gir in two distinct waves
  • Phase I (2021–2022) – 28 birds released.
  • Phase II (2023) – 12 birds released.
• The birds have adapted to the environment, secured territorial boundaries, and bred successfully every single year since their initial release.
• Telemetry Tracking – 11 males were outfitted with satellite transmitters to monitor long-term daily ranging, territorial habits, and behavioural shifts.
• Forest Preference – The birds showed preference for Gir’s native dry mixed deciduous and teak forests.
• Birds dispersing outside the protected area frequently used orchards, water bodies, and areas close to human settlements.
• Nest Selection – Hornbills selected mature trees with large trunk girths for nesting, particularly Sterculia urens and Terminalia bellirica.
• Dietary Base – Fruits of banyan, peepal, karamda, and dhraman, supplemented by insects and other invertebrates.
• Ecological role – A long-distance seed disperser, helping regenerate forests by transporting seeds of fruit-bearing trees across large areas.
• Cause of Disappearance – Historical records suggest that hunting, rather than habitat degradation, was the primary reason for its disappearance.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List – Least Concern (LC).
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule II.

Gir National Park and Sanctuary – Located in Gujarat, it is the sole global refuge of the wild Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica).

Reference

The Hindu | Indian Grey Hornbill