Meridian Vol. 5 (2).66-69. June 2016 ISSN: 2278-750x

Conservation and Monitoring of Great (Buceros bicornis) and Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) with the involvement of endemic Kadar tribe in the Vazhachal Forest Division, Anamalai part of southern , Kerala, India.

Amitha Bachan K.H1 and Fasila P.K2

1 Assi. Prof., Research Department of Botany, MES Asmabi College, Kodungallur, Thrissur Dt., Pin - 680671 Kerala, India and Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation. [email protected] 2 PhD. Fellow, Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Calicut university P.O., Malappuram Dt., Kerala, India.

Introduction In the Western Ghats region highest numbers of Great occur here Hornbills are generally frugivorous, (Mudappa and Raman, 2009). arboreal, and secondary cavity-nesters and important agents of seed dispersal in tropical forests (Kemp 1995). They require natural hollows of large canopy trees and usually use the same nesting trees for many years. Historically, hornbills have also been subjected to hunting all over their range in Asia, adding to their vulnerability (Bennett et al. 1997). Of the nine species of hornbills in India, four occur in south India: the Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Malabar Pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), ( birostris) and Malabar Grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus). Three species, Great Hornbill,

The forests of Vazhachal Forest Malabar Pied Hornbill and Malabar Gray Division occupy a central and pivotal Hornbill sympatrically nest in the low position in the Anamalai landscape and link elevation riparian areas of Vazhachal forests all the important forest areas in the vicinity. (Bachan, 2006). Earlier studies in various 66

Meridian Vol. 5 (2).66-69. June 2016 ISSN: 2278-750x

parts of the Anamalai landscape indicated () to record and monitor nests. hunting by the endemic ‘Kadars’ as an The selected hornbill guards perambulated important threat. Many have suggested each area during the nesting seasons, need of continuous monitoring and recording nest activities and protecting protection against hunting of squabs as an trees from forest fire and poaching. We important conservation measure (Kannan accompanied each group once a month, and James 1998; Datta, 1998; Bachan, verified their findings, ensured that they 2006). The ‘Kadars’ are a primitive, followed directions, documented their seasonally nomadic, forest dwelling perceptions and slowly empowered them community endemic to the Anamalai hills for scientific monitoring. Details regarding of the Western Ghats. The majority of nesting trees were recorded during the population (50%) lives in the Vazhachal process. At the very least, nest activities Forest Division. recorded were entry of females, hatching

Materials and Methods of chicks, existence of female inside, and fledging of chicks. For each nest six threat A preliminary hornbill survey was factors were recorded as positive or conducted between November 2004 and negative. Basic statistics of the relative May 2005 with field support of the Kadars. threat values were used for comparison of It was incorporated as a programme of the threat factors for different regions and also VSS (Vana Samrakshana Samithy) – a for the success of the conservation community organization of the tribe under programme. the forest department. Tribesmen were selected based on their interest and Results and conclusions experience in interior forest dwelling, many During the preliminary (2004-05) of them were poachers of hornbill squabs. survey 25 nests (23 Great Hornbill and two The selected tribesmen were trained in the Malabar Pied Hornbill) nests were located. field to monitor nests during the nesting There was gradual increase in the number season and also for general surveys. Sheets of nesting trees discovered (24-25%) each were prepared in the local language year. After the project started, 57 Great

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Meridian Vol. 5 (2).66-69. June 2016 ISSN: 2278-750x

Hornbill and four Malabar Pied Hornbill About 30 people from all the six nests were located during the four years of Kadar tribal VSS of the forest division intensive search and all except one (which participated in the programme. It became fell down in a storm) were found successful part of the regular Joint Forest last year. Failure in nesting attempts was Management – monitoring programme of less (8-5%) during the time. Two previously the forest department and VSS. abandoned nests were reoccupied during Incorporating the programme through the 2005-06, four during 2006-07 and five 2007- VSS and the Forest Department and making 08. Among these eight were Great Hornbill it part of their regular activities ensured the Nests and remaining three were that of the continuity of the process. The programme Malabar Pied Hornbill. Great Hornbills here provided a means of sustenance to the found to nest on trees greater than 2 m people while preserving their traditional GBH (average 4.3 m) and tree height ranged forest dwelling habits. After the 24-40 m with an average of 31 m. Great implementation of the conservation Hornbills were found to nest on 18 species programme during 2004-05 and up to the of trees. Most nests were located on last nesting season (2007-08), threat factors . Out of the four Malabar reduced markedly. Among the six threat Pied Hornbill nests three were on factors, hunting became non-existent and Tetrameles nudiflora and one on Terminalia forest fire (85% to 5%) and human bellirica. disturbance (24% to 5%) also reduced. Threat due to degradation of forest (85% to 47%) reduced although persisted, and the threat of flow fluctuation by dams (21%) remained a strong threat factor.

Hornbill Guards marking the nest tree

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Meridian Vol. 5 (2).66-69. June 2016 ISSN: 2278-750x

management has been started here as a long term measure.

References

Kemp, A. C. 1995. The hornbills. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England. Bennett, E. L., A. J. Nyaoi, and Sompud J. 1997. Hornbills Buceros spp. and culture in Northern Borneo: can they continue to co-exist? Biol. Conserv. The gradual increase in reoccupation 82: 41-46. Mudappa, D., & Raman, T. R. S. 2009. A of abandoned nests was probably due to conservation status survey of the effects of the participatory conservation hornbills (Bucerotidae) in the programme. The increase of Malabar Pied Western Ghats, India. Indian 5 Hornbill nests from a single active nest (4): 90–102. Kannan, R. 1994. Ecology and conservation (2004-05) to four active nests (2007-08) was of Great Pied Hornbill (Buceros critical to rescue the species from local bicornis) in the Western Ghats of extinction in their only available nesting southern India. Fayetteville, Arkansas: Ph.D. thesis, University of habitat in Kerala. Increase in the nest Arkansas. encounter, nesting success, Kaimal S., Kaimal B., Gopalan M. B. and reestablishment of abandoned nests and Grippo R. S. 2007. Hornbill population dynamics in south India. the increase in participation of tribesmen in – An ecological risk assessment the programme and decrease in the approach. Poster presentation. intensity of threat factors could be Arkansas State University. Bachan, A.K.H 2006. The Hornbill Haven. attributed to this conservation programme. Sanctuary Asia. 25(6): 46-49. Now the programme has got wide Datta, A. 1998. Hornbill abundance in acceptance, MoEF has supported 2010 for unlogged forest, selectively logged the continuity of the programme and other forest and a forest plantation in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Oryx 32 : research initiatives like artificial nest 285-294. installation, habitat monitoring and

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