Breeding of Indian Grey Hornbills in Gir

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The Indian Grey Hornbill has bred successfully for the fourth consecutive year in Gir forests, making a comeback 60 years after disappearing from the region following its reintroduction in 2021.
Forest officials moved 40 Indian Grey Hornbills from Gujarat's Aravalli forests, releasing 28 birds between 2021 and 2022 and another 12 birds in 2023.
Researchers fitted satellite transmitters on 11 male hornbills to closely track their movements, home territory choices, and breeding habits.

This bird species lives across the Indian subcontinent and commonly inhabits natural forests, tree plantations, fruit orchards, and human-modified spaces.
The formal scientific name for the Indian Grey Hornbill is Ocyceros birostris.
It is the most common hornbill species in India, with a presence stretching from Jammu to Kerala and from Rajasthan to West Bengal.
Outside India, this species also lives in neighboring nations such as Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
The bird prefers dry plains, hill bases, and open spaces, settling in deciduous woods, thorny bushes, city gardens, and areas with tall mature trees.
Habitat quality improved after authorities established the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 1965 and Gir National Park in 1975, which made this reintroduction successful.
The IUCN Red List classifies the conservation status of this bird as Least Concern.
It features silver-grey body feathers, a long tail marked with a white stripe, and a curved light-ivory beak with a black base.
A narrow ridge called a casque sits on top of its beak, and this structure is larger in males than in females.
Adult hornbills have red eyes surrounded by grey skin, whereas young birds have brownish-orange eyes with reddish-orange skin around them.
By spreading seeds through its diet, the bird plays a critical role in growing new trees across forest zones, farming regions, and cities.