ANTIQUE – A male Visayan Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini) was found in poor health in Sitio Manirag, Barangay Poblacion, in the town of Laua-an, Antique.
The Visayan Tarictic Hornbill is an endangered species endemic to the islands of Negros and Panay.
These birds are characterized by their creamy-white head and neck, white upper chest, reddish-brown lower chest and upper tail coverts, and a creamy-white buff tail with a broad black tip. The bill and casque are blackish, the former with yellowish ridges. The bare ocular skin is pinkish-white.
Shirly Palomara, a resident of the place, captured the Visayan Tarictic Hornbill on Sunday, Nov. 5.
She immediately reported this to the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The bird is now in the custody of DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO)-Belison Law Enforcement Unit for further observation.
The Visayan Tarictic Hornbill was listed as endangered per DENR Administrative Order 2004-15, which established the list of terrestrial threatened species and other categories and the list of wildlife species under Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.
According to the study, hornbills have powerful neck muscles, and to support their heavy bill, they have developed strong muscles and fused vertebrae in their neck, which is a unique feature of this bird.
Hornbills are the only birds with eyelashes, the study added./PN
