Mabula Ground Hornbill Project

At present, Southern Ground-hornbills are considered internationally as "Vulnerable" throughout their sub-equatorial range in Africa by the IUCN, but within South Africa and Namibia they have already been classified as "Endangered", with their numbers outside of formally protected areas still declining. Their populations continue to decline towards being "Critically Endangered" in South Africa. The reasons for their decline are predominantly loss of habitat to bush-encroachment and development, overgrazing, large-scale monoculture, loss of large nesting trees, besides secondary poisoning, lead toxicosis from spent lead ammunition and electrocution on transformer boxes. We are working to slow the decline by: Harvesting and rearing of redundant second-hatched chicks that would naturally die of starvation and dehydration if left in their wild nests. These artificially reared chicks double the productivity and form a sustainable source of birds for the reintroduction and conservation captive breeding programmes. Re-wilding these artificially-reared chicks using wild-experienced adults as mentors in carefully managed groups called "bush schools". Reintroduction of the "rescued" birds back into areas where they have become locally extinct once original threats in those areas have been mitigated. Provision of artificial "super nests" to wild groups with no or inadequate nests. Research on genetics, behaviour and other important unanswered questions necessary for successful conservation management of the species. Coordination of a nationwide awareness campaign to educate the general public to the threats facing the thunder birds and to reinstate the bird into the collective memory in areas where it has become locally extinct. Custodianship programme that aids land-owners and managers and community leaders to manage in a way that will ensure sustainability of their locally resident ground-hornbill families.