Oriental Pied Hornbill Breeding in the Wild Takes Flight

Sada and Lily, a pair of oriental pied hornbills, have been successfully introduced into the wild. Flying free in Bukit Timah, they hatched three chicks in two clutches, all in a single breeding season.

Initially housed in an introductory aviary within Bukit Timah, Sada was encouraged to fly out to look for food to feed Lily and the newly hatched chicks. A portion of the aviary was specially opened for Sada to roam free, whilst Lily and the chicks remain sealed in their nest. The two chicks were then bred to freedom in the wild and subsequently, both Sada and Lily were also released. A third chick from their second clutch was also successfully fledged in this area.

Jurong Bird Park is ecstatic their oriental pied hornbills are thriving in the wild. Native to Singapore, they were originally thought to be extinct due to a lack of sighting extending for more than 150 years. After being rediscovered in 1994, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore, National Parks Board and Singapore Avian Conservation Project committed to increasing the in-situ population of the hornbills in the wild, and have succeeded with a population of more than 50 birds.

Long term recovery of the hornbill population appears promising, with more than five years of ongoing field research conducted by the Singapore Avian Conservation Project.