How rare is the "earth phoenix" that flew into people's houses in Nghe An?

(Dan Tri) - A strange 2kg bird that flew into a house in Nghe An in early October is in the group of endangered, rare species that need to be preserved.

On October 7th, the Tan Ky Commune Police ( Nghe An province ), in coordination with the Tan Ky Forest Management Unit and the Commune People's Committee, released a hornbill back into its natural environment after it was handed over by local residents.

Earlier, on October 3rd, Mr. Dinh Duc Dung (residing in Tan Ky commune) discovered a strange bird, suspected to be a rare species, flying into his garden. Mr. Dung immediately reported it to the authorities, who then took possession of the bird.

The Tan Ky commune authorities and local people organized the release of hornbills back into the wild (Photo: Thanh Trung).

The bird has a long wingspan, a large yellow beak, and weighs over 2kg. Upon examination, it was identified as a hornbill ( Buceros bicornis ), belonging to the Bucerotidae family, and is classified as Group IB – a category of endangered and rare animals, strictly prohibited from exploitation and commercial use.

Shortly afterward, the bird was released back into its natural habitat in accordance with legal regulations.

The hornbill is a large bird, 95-120 cm long, with a wingspan of up to 1.5 m, and weighing 2-4 kg. Its most distinctive feature is its bright yellow cap with black markings on top, a hollow structure made of keratin that accounts for up to 11% of its body weight. Males have red eyes, while females have blue eyes.

The Great Hornbill is a famous bird known for its beautiful plumage and striking orange-yellow horn-like beak (Photo: NikonUSA).

This species is distributed in lowland and mountainous areas with tropical and subtropical climates in several Southeast Asian countries, India, and southern China.

The function of the hornbill's curved beak and vibrant colors has always been a major question for scientists . The most plausible hypothesis to date is that the beak is used as a tool to attract mates.

With its beautiful and unique appearance, the hornbill is revered by many tribes as a precious bird and is chosen as a sacred animal to offer to the gods during festivals. Ancient people believed that this bird held spiritual significance and could soothe the souls of the deceased.

However, their beautiful beaks and plumage have contributed to putting this species at risk. Since ancient times, hornbill beaks and feathers have been used to make exquisite jewelry and decorative items, leading to them becoming targets for many hunters of rare animals.

In August 2021, authorities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, discovered a shipment of eight live hornbills being held captive, en route to an international market.

Between 2015 and 2021, there were 99 cases involving the illegal buying, selling, transporting, and keeping of 268 hornbills of various species belonging to this genus.

Even without illegal trade, hornbills are being driven to extinction due to their slow breeding cycle and inability to nest because of a lack of suitable habitat. A significant portion of their population has declined due to the shrinking of their natural habitat, largely caused by deforestation and human impacts.

However, the trade in hornbill horns in general, and hornbills of related species, continues unabated. According to TRAFFIC, at least 3,188 horned beaks, heads, and horned skulls were seized between 2010 and 2020 in 66 cases across 6 countries.

In Thailand, between 2014 and 2019, there were 236 online listings for 546 parts and products from nine species of hornbills, with over 80% of them belonging to the helmeted hornbill.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/loai-phuong-hoang-dat-bay-vao-nha-dan-o-nghe-an-quy-hiem-nhu-the-nao-20251009174010928.htm