Gujarat’s Gir forests have recorded a major conservation success with the successful reintroduction and breeding of the Indian Grey Hornbill, a species that had disappeared from the region more than six decades ago.
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), a scientific study has confirmed that the hornbills released under a species recovery programme have not only survived in the wild but have also established territories and produced offspring.
The reintroduction initiative, led by the Gujarat Forest Department and conservation partners, marks the first comprehensive assessment of efforts to restore the locally extinct species in the Gir landscape.
Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the programme reflected a new phase in wildlife conservation in the state, with a focus on recovering rare and endangered species through scientific methods.
“Grey Hornbills reintroduced into the Gir landscape in 2021 have successfully established territories, adapted to their new habitat, and produced offspring, marking a major milestone in restoring a species that had disappeared from the region between the 1950s and 1960s,” Modhwadia said.
Minister of State for Forests and Environment Pravin Mali said Gujarat’s conservation initiatives demonstrated the importance of protecting natural heritage through species recovery programmes.
The research paper titled “Reintroduction of Indian Grey Hornbills in Gir, India: Insights into Ranging, Habitat Use, Nesting and Behavioural Patterns”, published in the international peer-reviewed journal Birds, provides detailed findings on the progress of the project.
Vinod Rao, Principal Secretary, Forests and Environment, Gujarat, said one pair of hornbills successfully bred in the first year after release, while three more breeding pairs nested in the second year, indicating that the population was beginning to establish naturally.
“The Indian Grey Hornbill plays a crucial ecological role as a long-distance seed disperser, helping regenerate forests by transporting seeds of fruit-bearing trees across large areas,” Rao said.
The project involved the release of 40 Indian Grey Hornbills in two phases. Twenty-eight birds were released between 2021 and 2022, followed by another 12 in 2023. Eleven males were fitted with satellite transmitters to monitor their movement patterns, habitat use and breeding behaviour.
Mohan Ram, Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Circle, and one of the study’s authors, said the birds were translocated from healthy hornbill populations in Gujarat’s Aravalli forests after habitat assessments confirmed that Gir offered suitable ecological conditions.
Jaipal Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat, said the species likely disappeared from Gir due to hunting pressure rather than habitat loss.
“Though the hornbill disappeared from Gir decades ago, improvements in habitat protection following the declaration of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 1965 and Gir National Park in 1975 created favourable conditions for bringing the species back,” Singh said.
Satellite tracking showed that the released birds initially travelled extensively while exploring their new surroundings before settling into smaller territories. Their average home range reduced from nearly 61 square kilometres during the initial exploration phase to around 5.7 square kilometres after adaptation.
Similarly, their average daily movement declined from 4.3 kilometres to 1.4 kilometres after establishing themselves in the habitat, indicating successful adjustment to the Gir ecosystem.
The study found that the hornbills showed a preference for Gir’s dry mixed deciduous and teak forests. Birds moving outside the protected area were also observed using orchards, water bodies and areas near human settlements.
Researchers noted that the birds preferred mature trees with large trunk girths, particularly Sterculia urens and Terminalia bellirica, for nesting, underlining the importance of conserving old-growth trees.
The hornbills were observed feeding their chicks mainly on fruits of banyan, peepal, karamda and dhraman trees, along with insects and other invertebrates.
Forest officials said the return of the hornbill is expected to support natural forest regeneration in the Gir landscape.
“The successful breeding, shrinking home ranges, and stable habitat use indicate that the reintroduction programme is progressing towards establishing a self-sustaining hornbill population,” Singh said.
He added that the Gir initiative could serve as a model for future bird reintroduction programmes in India, especially for species that have become locally extinct despite the availability of suitable habitats.
(ANI Inputs)
