India’s First Hornbill Conservation Centre at Anamalai Tiger Reserve
Why in the news
The Tamil Nadu government has established India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district.
Key facts
- Location: Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.
- Funding: Rs 1 crore from the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund.
- Hornbills are valued as seed dispersers in tropical forests.
- Work includes habitat mapping, nest monitoring, climate impact assessment, forest restoration and community nest-adoption schemes.
- Partners include the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Nature Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Institute of India and the IUCN Hornbill Specialist Group.
| Hornbill species | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Great Hornbill | Buceros bicornis |
| Malabar Grey Hornbill | Ocyceros griseus |
| Malabar Pied Hornbill | Anthracoceros coronatus |
| Indian Grey Hornbill | Ocyceros birostris |
About the plan
The centre targets four hornbill species through research, habitat restoration and community involvement. The model is to be replicated at Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and in Kanyakumari district.
Exam angle
- State-wise firsts: Tamil Nadu, Anamalai (Coimbatore).
- Great Hornbill is the best-known of the four species covered.
- Link with species-recovery and tiger reserve static questions.