Tamil Nadu to Establish Hornbill Conservation Centre at Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
National
Tamil Nadu’s government approved ₹1 crore to establish a Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). This landmark initiative, announced by Forest Minister K. Ponmudy, aims to protect four indigenous hornbill species through science-driven habitat restoration, community engagement, and institutional partnerships.
- The decision to set up the Centre of Excellence, formally sanctioned by the Finance Department and announced in the State Assembly in March 2025, concentrates efforts on the Great, Malabar Grey, Malabar Pied, and Indian Grey Hornbills. These avian “forest engineers” play vital roles in seed dispersal across Tamil Nadu’s ecosystems.
- Located at the foothills of ATR in Coimbatore district, the centre will include laboratories, seminar halls, accommodation, nursery units and field facilities. These will support research, monitoring, breeding, movement ecology, climate impact studies, and genetic-diversity assessments.
- Habitat management measures include protecting natural nesting trees (even on private lands), raising saplings of key food species such as Dipterocarpus indicus, Cryptocarya anamalayana, and Myristica malabarica, and installing artificial nest boxes. Landowners will be recognized as “Hornbill Protectors” under the policy.
Main Point :- (i) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department, under Principal Chief Conservator Srinivas Reddy, IFS, will coordinate the initiative. Collaborating institutions include the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Nature (SACON), Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, and Wildlife Institute of India, ensuring an expert-backed approach.
(ii) For the first time, a state-level comprehensive hornbill population survey will be launched, especially targeting the vulnerable Malabar Pied Hornbill. The IUCN-classified vulnerable Great and Malabar Grey Hornbills, along with Indian Grey Hornbills (of least concern), will benefit from targeted conservation.
(iii) This Centre represents Tamil Nadu’s commitment to biodiversity in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The initiative also forms part of broader conservation efforts including measures for the Lion-tailed Macaque, smooth-coated otter, Madras hedgehog and Bengal fox across the state.
About Tamil Nadu
Chief minister: M K Stalin
Governor: R. N. Ravi
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