Hornbill Project, Belum-Temengor

11 May 2010

There are a total of ten (10) different types of hornbills found in Malaysia, of which all can be found in the Belum-Temengor Forest Reserve. Reputed to possess high levels of biodiversity, Belum-Temengor is one of the last remaining frontiers that support sizable populations of large birds such as hornbills.

The Hornbill survey was incepted in February 2004, made possible with the support from a number of grants and foundations, namely, Rufford Small Grant, Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, Asia Bird Fund, Leica-Forktail Award and British American Tobacco (Malaysia). Although the hornbill survey focuses on the Plain-pouched Hornbill (Aceros subruficollis), other hornbill species are also noted of when observed during survey trips.

The Hornbill survey team which consists of Yeap Chin Aik, Lim Kim Chye and Ravinder Kaur periodically make trips into Belum-Temengor to look for the magnificient creatures, engaging the local indigenous community to be involved in the surveys.

Mass amounts of Plain-pouched Hornbills are usually noticed flying across the Belum-Temengor skyline between July and November every year. In fact, in August 2004, about 1,000 Plain-pouched Hornbills have been sighted on a single sighting.

It is hoped that the project will contribute towards understanding the ecology and biology of the globally threatened and near-threatened hornbills. Through this, it is hoped that the knowledge gained through the project will help to improve protection for the hornbills and its habitat.