Hornbill Project

PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Title: Study of Captive Breeding Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), in Relation to Nest box materials, Dimension, Shapes and Installing Sites in Zoological Park Organization, Thailand.

Project by: Ms. Urarikha Kongprom, Zoo Biologist Khao Kheow Open Zoo Zoological Park Organization Thailand.

Estimated Project Period : 5 Years

Estimated Project Cost: US$ 38,500.00 6. The purpose and objectives of the proposed project. :

Objectives:

• To increase the number of Great Hornbills through Captive Breeding.
• To manage the Great Hornbill population within the member zoos of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand.

Ultimate Goal: To release the captive bred Great Hornbills back into the wild.

The hypothesis on the proposed project: "Comparative Study of Captive Sympatric Paired Hornbill, in Relation to Nestbox Materials, Dimension, Shapes and Installing Sites" which is the 'pilot project' for some Hornbill species.

Illustration of the overall significance of the proposed project:

• Research on the total numbers (male, females, paired and unpaired) of Great Hornbills in all the zoos under the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand.
• Start a record for every Great Hornbill and mark them.
• Pair the unpaired Great Hornbills appropriately.
• Redesign the cages to fit the purpose of breeding and install various nest boxes.
• Collect data through closed circuit cameras installed in every cage.

The proposed project should provide new information on a conservation problem in Asia. : This project will be beneficial for further studies on other endangered bird species in Asia. It will, in turn, help increase the numbers of the endangered birds species and reduce the risk of extinction in the wild.

Details of the allocation of the total grant budget requested from AWC and the total estimated period for the whole project. :

• Making of nest boxes (of various materials) for all the zoos under the Zoological Park Organization Thailand (US$ 2,500)
• Redesigning/ improving the cages in all zoos under the Zoological Park Organization Thailand (US$ 6,250)
• Transportation of the birds for pairing purposes along with transportation boxes (US$ 2,500)
• Closed circuit cameras- one set per zoo (US$ 12,500)
• Equipments for record keeping (US$ 2,500)
• Equipments for analyzing data- one set per zoo (US$ 6,750)
• Traveling and research expenses (US$ 3,750)
• Publications of project and results (US$ 1,750)

TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET: US$ 38,500

Other organizations/ agencies supporting the project: Zoological Park Organization

Parties involved in the project: Biologists, Veterinarians and animal keepers of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand.

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