Majestic Helmeted Hornbill Becoming Extinct By Poaching For Its "Red Ivory" Beak

Poachers are hunting this one of the world's most spectacular birds and now under threat of extinction. This rare bird is known as helmeted hornbill with red ivory beak that is more valuable than elephant ivory.

The helmeted hornbill is a huge bird that belongs to the hornbill family. It can be found in Borneo, Sumatra and Malay peninsula. Its body length is about 110 to 120 cm (43-47 in) with tail feathers 50 cm (20 in) long. It is considered the largest Asian hornbill. The males weigh about 3.1 while the females weigh 2.7 kg.

The Guardian reports that the helmeted hornbill has a solid red beak that sells as a "red ivory" on the black market. It is costlier that the elephant ivory. The poaching increased since 2011 to meet the Chinese demand for carving ivory. In 2012, the rare bird is listed as "near threatened."

According to the Species Survival Network, there were about 2,100 heads of the helmeted hornbill that were confiscated in China and Indonesia in the two years up to August 2014. Some also assess there are 6,000 that are killed each year.

The delegates from Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Indonesia stated that the high price reached by the casques motivates hunters to kill all the hornbills they cross, including the juvenile birds. They further stated that the illegal trade in rhino horn and elephant ivory has been well documented. On the other hand, the illegal trade in casques (helmeted hornbill) has been little known. They added that if this highly profitable illegal trade is not stopped, the existence of this majestic species is in danger and is likely to lead to extinction.

The CITES delegate from the Indonesian Hornbill Conservation had witnessed the rampant illegal poaching in the rainforest. They said that only global cooperation can stop the illegal trade in hornbill ivory before it is too late.