Saving our ground-hornbills

Thabazimbi – The southern ground-hornbill (Bromvoël in Afrikaans or Mahututu in Setswana) has been extinct in the Thabazimbi area for decades.

For the past five years, restoration efforts to relink the Botswanan and South African endangered populations through the Marakale corridor were rolled out.

Reintroductions in the area began on a 45,000-ha property where all previously known threats such as snares, accidental poisoning from toxic bait and lead poisoning from spent-lead ammunition had been removed. The conservation reintroduction of birds is much more difficult than that of mammals as they cannot be fenced for safety purposes. The second group has since left that safe property and has been traversing the greater Sentrum area.

Sadly, one of the birds has been injured and is also showing signs of infection or poisoning. From Saturday 29 August, conservation teams have been scouring the area but have been unable to locate the injured young male or the alpha male. Thankfully, the alpha female was found in good health.  

Sightings of lone ground-hornbills must be reported so that the ground-hornbill team can immediately respond.  

For more information, contact Rykie May on 082 6024379, Lucy Kemp on 083 289 8610 or Willem Krynauw on 071 868 5200. Alternatively, go to www.ground-hornbill.org.za or email project@ground-hornbill.org.za.