In search of one of the rarest birds: The struggle to save the Sulu hornbill

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – The forest of Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, is alive with the hum of cicadas and the rustle of leaves in the tropical breeze. But among these sounds of life lies a haunting silence, a void left by the dwindling calls of one of the rarest birds on Earth.

For bird photographer Raymond Dan, the journey to capture another image of the elusive creature, locally known as tawsi, began with a leap of faith. Armed with his camera and guided by a team of conservationists, Dan spent three days exploring the wild.

By a stroke of luck on the first day, as dawn’s light filtered through the canopy on November 26, he was rewarded: he succeeded in capturing an image of the Sulu hornbill (Anthacoceros montani) for the second time this year – the first was in June.

Dan’s most recent journey to Panglima Sugala, organized by team leader Nicky Icarangal, offered another unforgettable moment in his life as a wildlife photographer. 

The encounter was a humbling experience. “We were extremely lucky to observe a hornbill…. The [bird was] wary, skittish even though we were some distance away, behind the cover of a hide. It appeared only on the first day of our three-day trip, and since then, we haven’t had the luck to see it again,” he said.

Only Icarangal, he said, was able to spot another during the three-day journey.

With only a handful of these striking birds left in the wild, the fate of the tawsi now rests in the hands of conservation programs and local communities working to safeguard its future.

Critically endangered and endemic to the Sulu Archipelago, fewer than 40 mature Sulu hornbills are left in the wild in Panglima Sugala, a 3rd class municipality in Tawi-Tawi, according to Brigadier General Romulo Quemado II, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade. 

“A small patch of primary forest remains in Panglima Sugala to support its survival. This patch of forest is under threat and not large enough to sustain the struggling hornbill population,” said Quemado, speaking for the Sulu Hornbill Research and Conservation Program, also known as Project Tawsi.

Quemado said the Sulu hornbill is rarer than the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), one of the world’s largest and most endangered raptors, which also faces critical threats from deforestation and habitat loss.

According to a 2020 report by the Haribon Foundation, “the bird is believed to have thrived in several other islands before going locally extinct and its population decreasing to as few as 40 individuals.” Today, the remaining Sulu hornbills are confined to a single island.

The tawsi measures approximately 50 centimeters in height and is easily recognized by its black-and-white plumage and the prominent yellowish casque on its beak. The casque, besides being an identifying feature, aids in communication and mate selection. 

Found in the forests of Tawi-Tawi, the bird’s survival is threatened by habitat loss due to logging and agricultural expansion, as well as hunting.

Dan said it pains him that the tawsi is “still hunted for sport and food and even for museums and zoos.”

Conservation efforts are spearheaded by initiatives like the Tawsi Conservation Program. 

Haribon Foundation said there is a conservation strategy and action plan for the Sulu hornbill, from 2019 to 2029, which aims to protect the species’ habitat to support viable populations, engage communities in conservation efforts to ensure mutual benefits, and promote governance, land use, and security systems that enhance conservation success in Tawi-Tawi.

The tawsi was listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1994, and in 2017, the only known remaining habitat of the Sulu hornbill was declared as a wildlife sanctuary, while a group of tawsi rangers were tapped from surrounding villages to protect the species.

Local authorities have also restricted access to the hornbill’s habitat, keeping it off-limits to casual birders and tourists. Forest patrols conducted by community rangers are funded to prevent incursions into critical hornbill sites.

Yet, despite these efforts, the tawsi has continued to inch closer to extinction. 

Dan expressed his hope for more united efforts to save the species. “I hope and pray that we, the local birding community, will unite behind this noble endeavor to preserve the Sulu hornbill so it can become a memorable moment for many birders, not just me,” he said.

Efforts to protect the hornbill are crucial not only for its survival but also for ecological balance. As frugivores, Sulu hornbills play an essential role in seed dispersal, supporting forest regeneration.

Haribon warned that the bird remains on the brink of extinction as the “remaining forests where the Sulu hornbill thrive are nearing total deforestation, leading to the bird possibly living within only 40% of its original distribution range.”

Despite the challenges, Dan and other conservationists remain optimistic. For them every sighting is a reminder of the importance of preserving what’s left, and that the tawsi deserves a fighting chance. – Rappler.com