Buxa Tiger Reserve to install breeding houses for hornbills

Jalpaiguri: Bengal is all set to install artificial breeding grounds for hornbills at Buxa Tiger Reserve. As a pilot project, the forest department will install two hollow wooden houses atop two simul or moyna trees and attract hornbills to use these as breeding centres.State forest department has taken a cue from Arunachal Pradesh for the project. “The breeding season for hornbills has already begun. We will install two such houses as a pilot project. If this attracts the birds, we will install more such artificial houses on top of trees in BTR before next year’s breeding season. This has been a mega success in Arunachal Pradesh,” said chief wildlife warden Debal Ray.Five hornbill species are found in north Bengal. Three of these — great hornbill, wreathed hornbill and rufous-necked hornbill — are listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. The other two species — oriental pied hornbill and Indian grey hornbill — are said to have a healthy population.The breeding houses for the hornbills will be made of plywood and hexagonal in shape. The house was created by Anirban Ghosh of Nature Mates, a Kolkata-based NGO that works with hornbills. It was showcased at the recently held Buxa Bird Festival. “If this becomes a success, it will be a great achievement. Placing such houses at Latpanchar is also in the pipeline,” said Animesh Basu, meber of the state wildlife advisory board.