Tamil Nadu has announced the creation of a dedicated Hornbill Conservation Centre within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve to protect the Great Indian Hornbill and other native hornbill species. The initiative aims to combine habitat restoration, research, and community participation to safeguard these iconic birds.

Key Points:

• The state government has sanctioned ?1 crore under the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund for the new centre.
• The centre will focus on hornbill monitoring, breeding research, movement ecology, and understanding climate impact on species.
• Restoration plans include protecting nesting trees, planting native food species, and installing artificial nest boxes.
• A fully equipped research and training hub will be built with labs, seminar rooms, accommodation, and a nursery for food saplings.
• The project will be executed in partnership with SACON, Nature Conservation Foundation, WII, and other top wildlife institutions.