Hornbill Project

Hornbill project in Buxa Tiger Reserve and other protected areas in North Bengal

In collaboration with Nature Conservation Foundation, we are working in Buxa Tiger Reserve for conservation of Hornbills since November 2017. The work area includes hilly terrain with hard stony soil with an elevation gradient ranging from 150m-1750m.

Objectives:

Estimating the density and abundance of all the four species of hornbill found in Buxa TR.
Identifying hornbill nests and monitoring them throughout the breeding season which will help to enumerate the nesting period, nesting success, visitation rates by the parent bird and diversity of food item delivered at the nest.
Roost site monitoring specially in the non-breeding season to calculate their numbers and trying to distinguish between male, female, juvenile.
Building a local conservation network, with the state forest department and local villagers to protect the hornbills with regular interactions and exchange of research findings from the project.

Hornbill Conservation Action Plan (2025–2040)

The northern part of West Bengal is home to five unique species of hornbills—Great, Indian Grey, Oriental Pied, Rufous-necked, and Wreathed Hornbills. These magnificent birds play a vital ecological role and are found across protected areas, community forests, farmlands, and even near human settlements.

To ensure their long-term survival, a 15-year Conservation Action Plan (2025–2040) has been developed through a collaborative effort involving forest departments, researchers, local communities, and youth groups from North Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and Bhutan. The plan was shaped during a multi-stakeholder workshop held in February 2024.

This strategic plan focuses on:

Species and Habitat Management
Research and Data Sharing
Community Stewardship and Ownership
Multi-stakeholder and Transboundary Coordination
Outreach and Education

Through joint action and continuous engagement, the goal is to build a healthy, growing population of hornbills while preserving their critical habitat.

Download our Conservation Action Plan document here:

Conservation Action Plan