Gray Hornbill has made a successful comeback in the Gir forests of Gujarat after 60 years. These birds, brought under the rehabilitation program, are now also breeding in the forest. This program is being considered a major success in the field of wildlife conservation.
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [भारत]July 14 (ANI): The Gujarat Forest Department is celebrating a major achievement in the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The second chick born using the ‘jump-start’ technique is still alive after the critical period of 40 days. Meanwhile, another significant success has emerged in the state’s wildlife conservation efforts. This time it is the successful return of the gray hornbill population to the Gir forests through a pioneering species rehabilitation programme.
Gray hornbill returns to Gir forests after 60 years
More than 60 years after the disappearance of the Indian gray hornbill from the Gir forests of Gujarat, a pioneering wildlife rehabilitation program has shown encouraging signs of success, according to an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). According to a new scientific study, these birds are not only surviving but also breeding in the wild.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has placed a renewed emphasis on the recovery of endangered wildlife species by combining scientific conservation, habitat restoration, community participation and technology-driven monitoring. From cheetah rehabilitation to focused conservation programs for tigers, lions, elephants, vultures and the Great Indian Bustard, the country’s wildlife conservation efforts have gained new momentum, strengthening India’s commitment to safeguarding its rich natural heritage for future generations.
Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, wildlife conservation in Gujarat has entered a new phase, especially in species recovery and conservation of rare and endangered wildlife. The gray hornbills, reintroduced to the Gir landscape in 2021, have successfully established their territories, adapted to their new habitat and produced offspring, which is the highest in the wild between the 1950s and 1960s. “The research conducted after the rehabilitation of the gray hornbill in the Gir forests is a major achievement for us in restoring the extinct species.”
Praveen Mali, Minister of State for Forests and Environment, said, “The Gujarat model has shown the world how to conserve and protect its natural heritage, and the state is proud of its achievements in wildlife conservation and the success of its species recovery programmes.”
Confirmation of success in scientific studies
The research paper titled ‘Reintroduction of Indian Gray Hornbills in Gir, India: Insights into Ranging, Habitat Use, Nesting and Behavioral Patterns’, published in the international peer-reviewed journal ‘Birds’, presents the first comprehensive assessment of the rehabilitation program led by the Gujarat Forest Department and its conservation partners.
Giving information about the programme, Vinod Rao, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, Gujarat, said, “One pair successfully bred during the first year after release, while three additional breeding pairs nested in the second year, suggesting that the reestablished population is beginning to establish itself naturally. The Indian gray hornbill plays an important ecological role as a long-distance seed disperser, helping to regenerate forests by delivering seeds of fruit-bearing trees over large areas. Helps.”
Rehabilitation Program Details
Mohan Ram, one of the authors of the study and Conservator of Forest, Junagadh Circle, Junagadh, said, “The project involved the release of 40 Indian gray hornbills in two phases. 28 birds were released between 2021 and 2022, followed by 12 more birds in 2023. Eleven male birds were fitted with satellite transmitters, allowing scientists to track their movements, habitat use and reproductive behavior over several years. Helped track down.”
Ram further said, “These birds were translocated from healthy hornbill populations in the Aravalli forests of Gujarat after extensive habitat assessments confirmed that Gir now offers suitable ecological conditions.”
Hornbills became extinct due to hunting
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat, Jaipal Singh, explaining the cause of the hornbill’s disappearance, said, “Although the hornbill had disappeared from Gir decades ago, improvements in habitat conservation following the declaration of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 1965 and the Gir National Park in 1975 created favorable conditions for the species’ recovery. Historical records show that the main reason for its disappearance was not habitat degradation, but hunting.”
Important information received from satellite tracking
Satellite tracking revealed that newly released hornbills initially traveled widely while exploring unfamiliar surroundings, and then settled in relatively small home ranges. During the first few months after release, birds adopted an average home range of about 61 square kilometres, which later shrank to about 5.7 square kilometers after becoming familiar with the landscape. Similarly, their average daily activity decreased from 4.3 km during the exploratory phase to 1.4 km after settlement, indicating successful adaptation to the Gir ecosystem. The authors say this kind of exploratory behavior is commonly seen in rehabilitated wildlife, before they establish permanent territories.
The study found that hornbills preferred dry mixed deciduous and teak forests of Gir compared to other habitat types. Within the protected area, birds showed the strongest preference for dry mixed deciduous forests, while those dispersing outside the Gir often used orchards, water bodies and even areas close to human settlements. The researchers also observed that hornbills selected large-stemmed mature trees for nesting, particularly Sterculia urans and Terminalia bellirica, highlighting the importance of preserving old trees within the landscape. The researchers observed birds feeding their chicks mainly fruits of banyan, peepal, karmada and dharamana along with insects and other invertebrates. The return of the hornbill is therefore expected to strengthen natural forest regeneration in felled landscapes.
An important model for conservation
“Successful breeding, shrinking home ranges and stable habitat use indicate that the rehabilitation program is making progress towards establishing a self-sustaining hornbill population,” Singh said. “The Gir project can serve as an important model for future bird rehabilitation programs in India, especially for species that have become locally extinct despite suitable habitat being available,” he said. (ANI)
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