Hornbills are tropical birds named after their characteristic long, down-curved, and often brightly colored bills. Out of the 62 species of hornbills found globally, nine are found in India. However, habitat fragmentation and indiscriminate poaching led to the a massive decline of hornbill populations across the country. Fortunately, local communities in the Western Ghats and North East India came to the rescue of these charismatic birds. This article will delve into how the local Kadar tribe of Kerala and Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh are helping protect these enigmatic avians.
The Hornbills of Anamalai
Four species of hornbills are found in the low-elevation riparian forests of the Western Ghats. These include the Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) and the Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris). Fruits constitute a major portion of their diets. In fact, many seeds have been found in fecal deposits of hornbills, indicating their profound importance as seed dispersers of the forests.
The major threats that impact these species are deforestation due to the logging of old-growth trees, forest fires, alteration of habitats, and the expansion of plantations. Deforestation is particularly harmful as hornbills only utilize tree as a nesting site for a period of years. Apart from this, hunting for meat and eggs that are poached for herbal concoctions by the endemic tribes is another major cause of concern for hornbill conservation.
The Kadar Community and Hornbills
The Kadars are a primitive tribe that occupies the Anamalai hill ranges of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The name “Kadan” in Tamil and Malayalam, means one who dwells in the forest, owing to their nomadic, forest-dwelling nature. The kadars depend on the flora and fauna of their forest homes, collecting Non-Timber Forest produce (NTFP). Furthermore, they also practice shifting cultivation, growing rice and millets.
Like the many residents of the Western Ghats, the Kadars too have faced the brunt of ecological destruction in the region. Deforestation and hydro energy projects in the river, which are a lifeline for the tribes, have pushed the Kadars to the brink of cultural extinction. They too have been ostracized from their own homes by the many forest laws, thereby uprooting their livelihoods and cultural traditions that see them depend on the forest, and instead, survive on odd jobs to provide for their families.
From poachers to protectors
Members of the Kadar tribe have a long history of hunting hornbills for their meat and their eggs for medicinal properties. However, one man, K.H. Amitha Bachan, a researcher and consultant to the Kerala Forest Department turned this around. He lead community conservation projects to conserve the hornbills and their habitat. In the last 2 decades, the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation (WGHF) under the leadership of Bachan has employed 72 youth belonging to the Kadar tribe and has successfully managed to safely keep 114 nests.
This participatory conservation and monitoring program has also ensured the survival of traditional practices and knowledge. The program provides a means of sustenance to the locals while also preserving their forest-dwelling habits. The locals involved make sure to safeguard the forests from encroachment and help prevent the spread of forest fires. The youth involved also prevent other youth from joining poaching rings.
The foundation equipped the youth with essential monitoring and conservation skills. The traditional practice of hunting is now non-existent, and the threat of forest fires, anthropogenic disturbance, and habitat loss has also been reduced, indicating the successful conservation program initiated by the WGHF and the active participation of the local community.
Saving the Hornbills of Arunachal
The Pakke tiger reserve (PTR) is home to four species of hornbills- Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Oriental Pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), Rufous necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) and the Wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus). These hornbills face a multitude of threats including deforestation and hunting.
The Nyishi tribe is the most populous tribe within Arunachal Pradesh in Northeastern India. They practice jhum, a type of shifting cultivation. The Nyishi traditionally wear helmets adorned by the casque of hornbills. Their practices of hunting hornbills for headgear and meat consumption have affected hornbill populations across their range in the state. Following this, a ban on hornbill hunting was bought about by a local Nyishi institution and later reinforced by the Ghora Aahabe society which is a council of village Headmen. The Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India bought about the replacement of traditional hornbill headgear with substitute fiberglass constructions of beaks. Due to these efforts, the PTR houses a healthy population of hornbills.
However, the surrounding Papum Reserve Forest (PRF) with less legal protection continued to bear the detrimental effects of deforestation. Primary threats for the hornbill populations included the abandonment of nests due to disturbances, inter-specific competition for nests, and loss of foothill forests. Help from the local community was sought to improve the reserve forests around PTR to ensure a large area of suitable habitat for the hornbills.
The Hornbill Nest Adoption Program
In 2011 a Hornbill Nest Adoption Program was launched through a three-way partnership between the Nature Conservation Foundation, Ghora Aahabe Society, and the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department. The concept behind the program was based on a similar project by Dr. Pillai Poonswad in Thailand. The hornbill chicks would have three parents. This includes their biological parents- the mating pair – and their foster parents- Nyishi tribals. Locals would be employed to monitor and protect the nests in PRF. This would be financed by urban citizens who would finance the entire program. The funds raised are used to employ nest protectors, buy equipment and contribute to village welfare.
The HNAP currently employs 11 Nyishi nest protectors who monitor, observe and protect the nests from disturbances from the entry date of the female into the cavity until the exit date of the female and chick fledging. The nest protectors count hornbills and other wildlife during the non-breeding season. From 2012-2019, the program has seen the successful fledging of 138 hornbill chicks. The ecosystem outside the protected area is also conserved by the Nyishi community. However, there has been an ongoing case of illegal logging since 2016 that has yet to be effectively stopped.
Conclusion
Examples of inclusion of local communities with their traditional practices and knowledge regarding the forests they inhabit and their flora and fauna is essential in ensuring the long-term success of a conservation program, Evident here in the tremendous work done by the local Kadar and Nyishi tribes in monitoring and protecting hornbill nests and their habitats. The locals have turned protectors and guardians, ensuring the hornbills continue to thrive under their vigil watch.
Written by: Vishwa Kiran
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