CURRENT CONTEXT : The Government of Tamil Nadu has formally approved ₹1 crore for establishing India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, aiming to protect the Great Indian Hornbill and three other threatened hornbill species found in the Western Ghats.

ABOUT ANAMALAI TIGER RESERVE (ATR)

• Location: Situated in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, within the Western Ghats.
• Area: Covers around 1,480 sq km, comprising core and buffer zones with a mix of forested hills and plantation landscapes.
• Biodiversity:
  • Hosts over 250 species of birds, including:
    • Great Indian Hornbill
    • Malabar Grey Hornbill
    • Indian Grey Hornbill
    • Malabar Pied Hornbill
  • Rich in mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies endemic to the Western Ghats.

ABOUT THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR HORNBILL CONSERVATION

Key Objectives

• Research on hornbill ecology, breeding, movement, climate change impact, and genetics.
• Population monitoring and surveys of food and nesting trees.
• Habitat restoration using:
  • Sapling nurseries
  • Nest site protection
  • Installation of artificial nest boxes