THE STATE OF HORNBILLS IN MALAYSIA

Asian hornbills (family Bucerotidae) are one of the iconic tropical bird families. A total of 32 species are found across 19 countries. Malaysia is an important range country for hornbills as it supports 10 species (six genera), where it ranks third with Myanmar and the Philippines in terms of hornbill diversity per country in Asia. They are the Oriental Pied (Anthracoceros albirostris), Black (A. malayanus), Bushy-crested (Anorrhinus galeritus), White-crowned (Berenicornis comatus), Wreathed (Rhyticeros undulatus), Plain-pouched (R٫ subruficollis), Wrinkled (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus), Great (Buceros bicornis), Rhinoceros (B. rhinoceros), and Helmeted Hornbills (Rhinoplax vigil). Hornbill distribution in Malaysia is generally well understood where they are found in all States in Malaysia. Eight species are recorded in Sabah and Sarawak while Peninsular Malaysia supports all ten. Knowledge on hornbill breeding and feeding ecology and behaviour is growing through long-term research and monitoring at several forest landscapes in Malaysia and birders’ observations. The use of artificial nest boxes has proven to be vital in assisting hornbills to breed in fragmented forest landscapes where there are no suitable large nest trees left. More than 50% of Asia’s hornbill species are now globally threatened – eight of 10 species in Malaysia are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. The survival of hornbills in Malaysia continues to be primarily affected by forest habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation caused by commercial logging and agriculture. The renewed interest in REE (rare-earth elements) mining could exacerbate the situation. Hornbill poaching or trapping (mainly chicks or juveniles) have been documented and detected by the local authorities. Hornbill conservation has gained momentum since 2004, where priority hornbill landscapes for conservation have been identified for Malaysia. Hornbill-forest guardianship by indigenous peoples (Orang Asli/Orang Asal) or local communities have been trialed. Restoring forest habitats for hornbills and planting hornbill food plants such as figs (Ficus spp.) are proceeding. More Malaysians are now more familiar with hornbills through many CEPA activities and social media. The recently declared National Hornbill Day (10 November) by NRES would further boost national awareness. Currently, hornbill populations in Malaysia seem to persist in many ‘good or intact’ forest landscapes but more resources need to be mobilised to prevent them from slipping into local extirpation. More collaborations between government and non-government stakeholders are also needed to chart the future direction of hornbill conservation for the country.