A team of researchers from Kerala was awarded the Future Conservationist Award by the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) for their project on Malabar Grey Hornbill conservation.

• This initiative aims to protect this endemic and vulnerable species, focusing on conservation beyond protected areas, particularly in human-modified landscapes like plantations.

About Malabar Grey Hornbill

• Scientific Name: Ocyceros griseus
• Unique Features
  • The Malabar Grey Hornbill is a large, distinctive bird with a grey body, black-and-white wings, and a prominent curved bill.
  • It has a white underside and a yellowish throat, which makes it easy to identify among other hornbill species.
  • The species is known for its muffled, grunting calls and its large casque (a hollow structure on the top of the beak).
• Habitat:
  • The Malabar Grey Hornbill is predominantly found in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in southern India.
  • The species is highly dependent on tree cavities for nesting, preferring secondary cavities (hollows made by other birds, such as woodpeckers).
• Protection Status: 
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Vulnerable 
• Threat: Habitat loss, destruction of nesting sites due to Human activities and agriculture.
• Ecological Significance:
  • Pollinator: Plays a crucial role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration by feeding on a variety of fruits and berries.
  • Indicator Species: Serves as an indicator of forest ecosystem health, as it requires large, intact forest habitats to thrive. 
    • The presence of Malabar Grey Hornbills is often a sign of a healthy, biodiverse forest environment.