We have recently been contacted by the Mabula Ground Hornbill foundation to design a Hornbill puzzle. The puzzle, like our rhino puzzle, will also consist of around 15 pieces that slot together, featuring a similar design. The main purpose of this product is to raise awareness for the Southern Ground Hornbill. Check back in the products section of our website over the next couple of weeks, where it will be added to our puzzles section once completed.
The Ground Hornbill
Why the Ground hornbill? The Ground Hornbill has been listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It has been said that it is quite likely that the birds’ status will soon reach “Critically Endangered” in Southern Africa.
It has been estimated that only around 1500 Hornbills remain in South Africa, of which only half fall under protected regions such as the Kruger national park. One of the reasons why the Hornbill is in such trouble is because they survive in groups consisting of 2 – 9 birds per group. This is not the problem however. Within each group, the Hornbills select one alpha male, and one breeding female. This will also contribute to the birds’ declining numbers. The rest of the birds within the group are used as helpers to the group. It has been estimated that only around 420 breeding Hornbill groups remain today.
The major factors that are leading to the decline in Hornbill population is loss of natural habitat to croplands, bush-encroachment, overgrazing and plantations, loss of nesting trees, secondary poisoning and electrocution.
You can read more about the Hornbill on the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project website here.