Gardeners of the forest
THE PROBLEM
HOW YOU CAN HELP
White-crowned Hornbill ©Richard Chong (Photographer/Instructor for OMD World Imaging Sdn. Bhd.)
Tackling the illegal and unsustainable trade in hornbills
Hornbills are iconic creatures, many sporting bright colours and impressive casques. These large birds are found in Asia and Africa and are considered the gardeners of the forest because of their pivotal role as seed dispersers. Hornbills regenerate forests by dispersing seeds vast distances away from parent trees.
Threatened by a complex combination of threats, including illegal and unsustainable trade, hornbills are a target as live birds for the pet, hobbyist and zoo demand due to their attractive appearance. They are also traded for their parts and derivatives for use as ornaments and jewellery, and their meat is consumed in some communities.
We need to take action!
We need to end the illegal and unsustainable trade in threatened hornbills urgently. Monitor strives to expose the illegal and unsustainable aspects of this trade, assist enforcement agencies in combating the illegal trade and catalyse conservation action through collaboration with partners such as the IUCN SSC Hornbill Specialist Group.
White-crowned Hornbill ©Richard Chong (Photographer/Instructor for OMD World Imaging Sdn. Bhd.)
Our Projects
Addressing the urgent need for effective and coordinated conservation strategies and solutions, we established the Hornbills in Trade Database. This exciting gateway to global hornbill trade knowledge aims to meet the need for improved understanding of the hornbill trade. The database includes information on species and products in trade, husbandry data, conservation assessments, current data gaps and encourages third parties to start filling in such gaps through targeted research.
Monitor’s projects on Hornbills include:
There is much to do, and we need your help.
How you can support
Report
If you witness songbirds in trade or in someone’s premises.
advocate
Encourage your government to better protect songbirds.
SUPPORT
Donate to support our songbird projects, every little bit helps!
