Ailing Great Hornbill gets care in Forest Department facility in Coimbatore

An injured Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) that was rescued from a place near Madukkarai in Coimbatore district on Monday (December 16, 2024) is currently under the care of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department at its avian recuperation centre in the city.

An injured Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) that was rescued from a place near Madukkarai in Coimbatore district on Monday (December 16, 2024) is currently under the care of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department at its avian recuperation centre in the city.

The male bird, aged around 10 years, was found lying on the side of a road at Thaneerpandal near Madukkarai, around 3 km off the forest boundary.

After being alerted by the public, the Forest Department staff rescued the hornbill that was unable to fly. They shifted the bird to the avian recuperation centre, where Forest Veterinary Officer A. Sukumar examined it.

According to Dr. Sukumar, the hornbill was diagnosed to have subcutaneous emphysema and ruptures in air sacs, which are part of the respiratory system in birds.

Though the staff gave mixed fruits and figs to the bird, it did not feed on them. The bird was given oral rehydration solution, vitamin B complex and medicines, including antibiotics, he said.

Madukkarai Forest Range Officer R. Arun Kumar said that Great Hornbills are seen in the undisturbed evergreen forest areas of the range.