WHAT'S NEW ... AT NFEFI?
Added to website: 18 March 2008
A pair of rare Rufous male hornbills (Buceros hydrocorax) has been presented to the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation’s (NFEFI) Biodiversity Conservation Center in Bacolod. It’s hoped they will mate with female Rufous hornbills at the center.
The birds had been in the care of the Gil Montilla National High School in Sipalay City for the past two years. They were spotted recently by a team of evaluators, including NFEFI representatives, during the ‘Search for the Most Environment Friendly Barangays and Schools’ contest run by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO).
Present at the hand-over to NFEFI were representatives from the school; Fauna and Flora International; PEMO and Sipalay’s City Environment Management Office.
The Rufous hornbill is the largest bird of its kind in the country. It’s endemic to the Philippines, especially in the Luzon and Mindanao faunal regions.
During their breeding season, the female is cemented into the cavity of large tree trunks high above the ground with only an opening to pass food to her by the male hornbill. She will break out of the chamber after the single nestling is partially grown.
The birds are adapting well to their new homes at NFEFI.
NFEFI’s Biodiversity and Conservation Center by the Provincial Lagoon runs a rescue and captive breeding program for threatened species. In recent years, it has successfully bred numerous endangered species such as the Philippine spotted deer (Cervus alfredi); the Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons); tarictic hornbills (penelopides panini, p.); the Luzon bleeding heart pigeon (Gallicolumba luzonica), and the Philippine eagle owl (Bubo philippensis).
One of the rare Rufous hornbills presented to NFEFI
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