IUCN HSG

Hornbill news

Red List status of : ensuring updated species factsheets and review of threat assessments

Twenty-four of the 62 hornbill species are current- update and improve the existing factsheets and ly threatened. Many species are due for a review re-assess the threat categories for some species of their threats status listing based on more recent where new data/information suggested that a or better data/knowledge. The existing factsheets change was needed. This had to be done within often lack adequate or updated information on the deadline set by BirdLife for receiving these in- the species. puts so that these changes could be incorporated in the November 2020 assessment. For the Afri- One of the tasks of the IUCN SSC Hornbill Spe- can , for which there is much less collated cialist Group (HSG) is to ensure a thorough and information available, the process followed was to informed assessment of the status (threat catego- conduct a thorough literature and desktop review ry) of all hornbill species along with making sure and to re-evaluate the current threat categories. all factsheets are up to date and more compre- hensive. While the primary aim of the Red Listing process is determining the threat status, it is also Asian hornbills important that the factsheets up on the IUCN Red Ishaan Patil and Aparajita Datta List website (that are referred to by people all over the world) also has more accurate, updated, de- We report on the steps/process followed for tailed information on the hornbill species. Asian hornbills. The first step was to reach out to various experts (part of the HSG or otherwise) and BirdLife International (official authority for all ask them to go through the existing latest version assessments) is working with the HSG to make of the species factsheet (shared by BirdLife) and sure the assessments are ready for the November make additions/edits to it based on their knowl- 2020 IUCN update. edge/data. Sixty-three experts from 15 different countries who had worked on either one or more This project was carried out with the help of two Asian hornbill species were contacted via email. interns working with Dr. Aparajita Datta and Dr. We received inputs from 37 experts including Lucy Kemp (HSG co-chairs) with funding support ex-situ data from North American and European from Chester Zoo. zoos from 2 HSG members. All 32 Asian hornbill factsheets were updated and on an average each The process followed was different for the Asian factsheet was reviewed by 5 individuals (range 0 and African hornbills as there is much more infor- – 18). Individuals from the Philippines, Indonesia, mation and data available for most Asian species. USA, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myan- The key priorities for the Asian hornbills was to mar, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and

43 Vol. 1(2): 43–46, 2020 IUCN HSG Hornbill Nat. Hist. & Conserv.

BirdLife had also earlier suggested uplisting of the Tickell’s Brown hornbill from Near Threatened to Vulnerable but it had been kept on hold due to lack of current data on populations within its range. Since there was no new information avail- able on population status in the 2 range coun- tries, the threat category of this species remains unchanged pending more current data.

The revised factsheets for all 32 Asian species were shared as and when they were completed from February to May 2020. BirdLife put up the topics with assessments for the species based on new information available with the suggested cat- egory changes on the Global bird forum in May India contributed to the assessment. for public inputs and comments. The topics were open till 28 June for comments. Preliminary de- Four species (Sri Lankan Grey hornbill, Tickell’s cisions were taken based on all inputs received. Brown hornbill, Mindoro Tarictic hornbill and The decisions are to be found as comments at Mindanao Tarictic hornbill) did not receive inputs the bottom of each relevant topic, with all top- despite several requests, so they were updated ics here: https://globally-threatened-bird-forums. by us by referring to available literature. birdlife.org/. The topics were re-opened for any further comments until 19th July 2020, when top- Four species were suggested for a threat lev- ics are closed and final decisions to be submitted el update. The Austen’s Brown hornbill or to IUCN will be made by BirdLife. White-throated Brown hornbill Anorrhinus auste- ni was suggested to be moved from Near threat- The project was carried out from December ened to Vulnerable. The suggested uplisting for 2019 to May 2020. Although we tried to do the the Austen’s Brown hornbill could not be consid- assessment as extensively as possible, there are ered by BirdLife as the inputs for the species were some species which have not been thorough- made at a later date and will be considered in the ly reviewed. We are also lacking data on some future. species from some range countries like Sri Lan- ka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The The Sumba hornbill Rhyticeros everetti was pro- next update and assessment will have to be more posed to be moved from Vulnerable to Endan- extensive than this one. For accurate threat level gered. The Malabar Grey hornbill gri- assessment, we will require greater participation seus was suggested to be uplisted to Vulnerable from hornbill researchers/scientists working in all from Least Concern. The Narcondam hornbill range countries. This update is just a beginning. Aceros narcondami was also proposed for a re- A more extensive update/desktop review will be view of its status given new data on its popula- carried out by compiling information based on tion suggesting that it could be downlisted from certain criteria/parameters that would be listed Endangered to Vulnerable under certain criteria. on a database format.

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African hornbills be recorded: Lucy Kemp and Kath Forsmann • Species • Record date Thanks to funding from Chester Zoo, Dr Kathryn • Location details – country, province/district/ Gamble and Milwaukee County Zoo, we could hire state a full-time intern, Dr Katherine Forsmann, to col- • Coverage – global, regional, national or site late all information available about all of the African specific hornbill species. Currently, none of Africa’s hornbill • Record category – breeding ecology, feed- species are listed on any of the CITES appendices ing ecology, distribution and population, despite evidence of concerning declines of certain movement and home range, fragmenta- species numbers across the continent. Designating tion, research method, habitat, seed disper- research efforts and funds is made particularly diffi- sal, ecotourism, genetic, ethno-ornithology, cult due to a lack of data and information on many threats, use and trades, ongoing conser- species. To properly understand the conservation vation action or captive breeding and hus- status and needs of these species a complete re- bandry assessment of the IUCN status of Africa’s hornbills • Record source – scientific journal, thesis or was needed. We aimed to reassess all species un- dissertation, popular article, sighting or per- der the IUCN Hornbill Specialist Group banner to sonal communication make informed future decisions regarding research • Record details (for all except sighting) – au- and conservation. The reassessments were con- thors, publication name, publisher, year, ducted through intensive online literature research. volume, edition, pages All records of sightings, calls, evidence of each spe- cies, databases and local reports were recorded in With this we were able to assess each species to a pre-constructed species matrix. These data were inform a reassessment of IUCN conservation sta- collated to determine which species’ status should tuses. These data were collated to identify the be updated and, where the conclusion was that the species that had enough data to be accurately status is ‘Data Deficient’ future efforts will focus on assessed and whether their current IUCN listings local, on site research into assessing these species were correct, which species should be changed in more detail. The ultimate goal is to establish from Least Concern to Data Deficient, where protocols for studying and monitoring hornbills in (which species) attention should be focused in the wild that will enable accurate abundance esti- the short-term and where, both nationally and re- mates, nest and roost monitoring, breeding biolo- gionally, future funds should be directed for im- gy, diet and behavioural studies and seed dispersal plementation of conservation training, capacity and restoration behaviour and to produce a reli- building and community engagement. able current handbook that can be used by biolo- gists, students and local communities alike. We succeeded in constructing a complete matrix for all African hornbill species (except Bucorvus A species matrix for all African hornbills (including leadbeateri which was recently re-evaluated and new taxonomic split) was constructed as follows: is considered Vulnerable internationally through- out their sub-equatorial range in Africa and En- For each and every available data point (pub- dangered in South Africa and Namibia). Based on lished literature, sighting, audio recording, the literature, sightings, audio recordings, tracks track or sign, historic record) the following was or signs and historic records that we collated, we

45 IUCN HSG Hornbill Nat. Hist. & Conserv.

were able to re-assess 32 African hornbill spe- factsheets are currently with the relevant special- cies. We have recommended that 27 of these be ists for review and final revisions will be submitted re-classified asData Deficient. These recommen- to BirdLife International for their appraisal for the dations were based on a severe lack of data on next assessment. By then we hope to have all the so many species as well as a lack of recent (within relevant data available to support any queries re- the last 10 years) literature. The updated IUCN garding the change in IUCN Red Listing.

Aparajita Datta Ishaan Patil

Lucy Kemp Kath Forsmann

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