Critically Endangered Helmeted Hornbill is being tagged for its Ivory
Critically Endangered Helmeted Hornbill is being tagged for its Ivory. Whereby its ivory is found on its huge beautiful beak that makes 10% of its body weight.
It’s a very large bird with a wrinkled throat patch.
Where do we find Helmeted Hornbill ?
They mostly feed on the fruits especially those from fig trees. Also, feed on insects, barks, among other creatures.
This birds used to be found in various places, whereby they are currently extinct.
They can currently be found in Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia as well as Myanmar. But now extinct in Singapore.
Where do we find the most sort for ivory in the Helmeted Hornbill
It is found on their beaks, a piece of their body known as casques. Which happens to be a solid keratin in this bird.
It runs from the beak’s base halfway to the tip.
When did they start to be a target for this ivory
These birds have a target for some time now. AAnd this explains why they are now considered critically endangered and extinct in some places.
Unlike other ivory from the huge animals like elephants and the like. Ivory from these birds, can easily be sneaked in by the poachers.
Being soft compared to other ivories , they have to be subjected to heat before being used in making ornaments.
So how do you support fight such ivory and these birds?
Read the full article here.
Cheche Winnie 