Malabar Pied Hornbill

Malabar Pied Hornbill Latest News

The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has started establishing six “hornbill restaurants” in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) for the rare Malabar Pied Hornbill and to promote natural forest expansion.

About Malabar Pied Hornbill

• The Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus ), also known as lesser pied hornbill, is a bird in the hornbill family.
• Appearance: It is a medium-sized forest hornbill with striking black and white plumage and a prominent casque.
• Habitat:  Its habitat is evergreen and moist deciduous forests, often near human settlements.
• Distribution: It is found in the Western Ghats and north-eastern Himalayan foothill regions of India and Nepal, the Satpuda Hills, as well as in Sri Lanka. 
• Diet: It is Frugivorous but can adapt themselves to an omnivorous diet in the breeding season.
• Ecological Role: It is a vital indicator of the forest ecosystem’s health and stability.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Near Threatened
• Threats: The primary threats to this species are habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.

Key Facts about Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is located in the state of Chhattisgarh.
• It was established by joining the regions represented by Sitanadi and Udanti wildlife sanctuaries. 
• The drainage system of the reserve consists of the Mahanadi as the main river, along with the Udanti, Sitanadi, Indravan, and Pairi Rivers as tributaries.
• There are 19 named mountains in the reserve. Deo Dongri is the highest point. The most prominent mountain is Atānga Dongar.
• Vegetation: The forest type here is predominantly tropical dry and moist deciduous.

Source: IE

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