Rhinoceros hornbill
Buceros rhinoceros
IUCN Red List StatusVulnerable
Buceros rhinoceros
The rhinoceros hornbill is one of the largest birds found in the rainforests of South-East Asia. With their impressively large wingspan, these hornbills can create a loud ‘whoosh’ noise – and, coupled with their distinctive beak and piercing eyes, these birds can be quite intimidating.
Their most impressive feature is their casque, a spectacular horn, which is highly attractive to poachers and is partly responsible for their dwindling numbers in the wild. They also face risks from logging activity, as they nest in the largest trees.
Even their unusual mating practice carries danger: after their eggs are laid, the female and the eggs are walled into a cavity with only a small hole for the male to pass in food. While this is designed to provide protection, it also means that logging activity can endanger the nest.
These birds have significant spiritual importance in Borneo. The native Iban people regard the rhinoceros hornbill (known as Kenyalang) as the king of the worldly birds.
The rhinoceros hornbills at Chester Zoo are part of a European Endangered Species Breeding Programme.
We are part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), an organisation for the European zoo and aquarium community that links over 340 members in 41 countries.
It operates the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which is designed to manage animal populations where those animals are threatened or vulnerable.
