Adult male Great Hornbill seen in the coastal belt of Kodungallur and Kaipamangalam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In a rare and unprecedented observation, the adult male horn was a large man, a state bird, and a species usually limited to the wooded high ranges of western Ghats, saw in the coastal belt of Kodungallur and Kaipamangalam, just 200 m from the beach.
Hornbill researcher Amith Bachan KH and research scholar Aswin Krishna photographed birds of feeding on the large fake tree of Ashoka (Monoon Longifolia), locally known as “Aranamaram”.
“This is the first such record from Kerala, where the location is directly on the sea, on an isolated tree on a sandy coastal beach,” Dr. Bachan, founder of Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation and member of the specialized group IUCN Hornbill. “Great horns are usually associated with wooded high ranges, so see one on an isolated coastal tree is very unusual.”
A similar report appeared from Kannura this July this year, near the campus of Ezhimala Naval Academy. Ten years ago he was also seen once in the coastal region of Thiruvananthapuram. Both previous reports were in the lastic areas of the hill near the coast, where there are large vegetation tracts similar to small forests. “But here it was the Sandy Beach environment, thanks to which this case is unique,” Dr. Bachan.
The Great Hornbill, which did not show fear of people, was observed food between native crops of trees near the residence of Sabiry, employees at the MES Asmbi College, where the Hornbill Foundation research center operates. Scientists have witnessed that the bird is a significant method of feeding – plucking fruit with the tip of his beak, throws them into the air and grabbed them in the mouth before swallowing.
Three options
According to Dr. Bacha could point to three possibilities: “First, it may be a sign of successful preservation in our basic lonon habitats such as ligachal and nelliyamthi, which would lead to increased rotting movement. Second, it may indicate behavior that could also be perception. It can also be vegetation patterns, and it could also be perceived, and they also bring it, and they could also be vegetative and brittle, and they could also be vegetation, and could also be deeper from these factors.
The closest large Hornbill populations are 35-50 km away in Lazhachal, Velelikulangara – Anapantham, Peechi and NelliyApathi forests. International records show that the species can travel over 100-200 km during the unfortunate season.
Published – August 10, 2025 20:34
