Compared to others of its kind, the Sulawesi Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus) is small, around 53 centimetres in size. To this reason, many foreign scientists refer it as dwarf hornbill. However, its existence alone is extraordinary, because the Sulawesi Hornbill is one of three hornbill species endemic to Indonesia, which inhabits the island of Sulawesi.
The Sulawesi Hornbill resides in primary forests, lowland, hills, and forest edges on the height of 700-1.100 meters above sea level. This species forages canopies bearing fruits. As a frugivore, the Sulawesi Hornbill is sometimes in groups of dozens of individuals that would then perch on Ficus spp. trees.
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The distribution of this species is in Lore Lindu National Park (Central Sulawesi), Tangkoko Dua National Park (North Sulawesi), Muana Island and Buton Island (Southeast Sulawesi) and relatively easy to found in the forest group of Popayato-Paguat in Gorontalo.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the Sulawesi Hornbill in Vulnerable status, meaning that this species has a 10% probability to become extinct in the span of next 100 years.
The cause of the decline of its population—also occurs on the Knobbed Hornbill—ranges from habitat damage, forest fire, poaching to gold mines. The Sulawesi Hornbill is listed on the Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and protected by the Government Regulation No 7 of 1999 concerning Preservation of Plants and Animals.
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Just like other hornbills, the Sulawesi Hornbill is also a “forest farmer”, dispersing seeds tenaciously. With the ability to roam up to a range of 100 kilometers, hornbills do have considerable environmental services in regenerating forests.
The life of hornbills is inseparable from forests. Its existence indicates a healthy forest condition, because this species requires a strong tree stands for nesting. These trees, surely, exist in healthy forests. (MEI)
Unduh wallpaper burung edisi Juni 2017 di tautan berikut ini: Kangkareng sulawesi
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Important fact: Out of 10.000 bird species in the world, Indonesia is a home for 1.769 wild birds. Discovering the various types of birds and their services for the environment is a way of appreciating the biodiversity richness of Indonesia.