📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Tisha Mukherjee
Science
Indian Grey Hornbills Celebrate Fourth Consecutive Breeding Year in Gir After 60-Year Absence
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 15 Jul 2026, 12:03 PM
👁 2
The Indian Grey Hornbill, once absent from Gir National Park for six decades, has successfully bred for the fourth straight year, signaling a significant conservation milestone.
The Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) has once again laid eggs in Gir National Park, marking its fourth consecutive breeding season after a 60‑year absence from the region.
Park officials reported that two pairs of hornbills nested in the canopy of teak and sal trees, producing a total of four chicks that are now fanning their wings. The birds were observed feeding on a variety of fruits and insects, indicating a healthy food supply.
The resurgence is credited to sustained conservation measures, including anti‑poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and community engagement programs that began in the early 2000s. The species was previously listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List.
“Seeing these birds thrive again gives us hope that our long‑term efforts are paying off,” said a park ranger. The authorities plan to continue monitoring the population and expand habitat corridors to support further recovery.
Park officials reported that two pairs of hornbills nested in the canopy of teak and sal trees, producing a total of four chicks that are now fanning their wings. The birds were observed feeding on a variety of fruits and insects, indicating a healthy food supply.
The resurgence is credited to sustained conservation measures, including anti‑poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and community engagement programs that began in the early 2000s. The species was previously listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List.
“Seeing these birds thrive again gives us hope that our long‑term efforts are paying off,” said a park ranger. The authorities plan to continue monitoring the population and expand habitat corridors to support further recovery.