The Distribution of Buceros rhinoceros and Awareness of Its Conservation Status

  • J. Mohd-Azlan
  • Abas Said
  • Sim Lee Kheng
  • Oswald Braken Tisen
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation book series (TOBC, volume 15)

Abstract

A rapid survey on the distribution of hornbills in Santubong National Park, Sarawak, East Malaysia, was carried out in April 2013 using point sampling technique at various locations around the park. Only the Rhinoceros hornbill, Buceros rhinoceros, was recorded, with a total of 45 independent calls and 15 observations at 10 locations around the protected area, mostly during early mornings and late evenings from 162 h of survey. Most of Rhinoceros hornbills were observed in pairs (73 %), while a single observation recorded at least ten individuals at a location. Additionally, local communities were interviewed to collect information on the occurrence, status, ecology and perception on Hornbill conservation in Santubong National Park. A standard questionnaire was designed to meet the purpose of this study. This survey was conducted on local communities from five local villages around Santubong National Park, local and international tourist visiting touristic areas in Santubong peninsula. In general the awareness on the conservation needs and status of the hornbill is high suggesting that the communities are interested and supportive of conservation related activities. Based on the socio-economic and ecological survey, the surrounding habitat of this protected area need to be protected through park extension that will increase connectivity between nearby forest patches which in turn may ensure the long term viability of the Rhinoceros hornbill in Santubong National Park.

Keywords

Protected Area Local Resident Forest Patch International Tourist Fragmented Forest 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to the Sarawak Forest Department for permit (NCCD.907.4 (Jld. 6)-32; 075/2013), and acknowledge the support received from the Permai Rainforest Resort. We are grateful to the students of the STH3043 course on Park and Wildlife Management, who helped in data collation. Research was supported by a grant from the Niche Research Grant Scheme, E14099/F07/69/1088/2013(02), from the Ministry of Education, Government of Malaysia, and the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. A previous version of this manuscript benefitted from the comments by Vijak Chimchome.

References

  1. Amat RY, Abdullah M (2004) Community-based ecotourism: a new proposition for sustainable development and environmental conservation in Malaysia. J Appl Sci 4:583–589CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Bennett EL, Nyaoi AJ, Sompud J (1997) Hornbills Buceros spp. and culture in northern Borneo: can they continue to co-exist? Biol Conserv 82:41–46CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Budowski G (1976) Tourism and environmental conservation: conflict, coexistence, or symbiosis? Environ Conserv 3:27–31CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Butler RW (1991) Tourism, environment and sustainable development. Environ Conserv 18:201–209CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Chaisuriyanun S, Gale GA, Madsri S, Poonswad P (2011) Food consumed by Great Hornbill and Rhinoceros Hornbill in tropical rainforest, Budo Su-Ngai Padi National Park, Thailand. Raffles Bull Zoology 59(Suppl No. 24):123–135Google Scholar
  6. IUCN (2015) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.1. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed 1 June 2015
  7. Kemp AC (2005) Family bucerotidae (hornbills). In: del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds) Handbook of the birds of the world, 3rd edn. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, pp 436–523Google Scholar
  8. Kitamura S (2011) Frugivory and seed dispersal by hornbills (Bucerotidae) in tropical forests. Acta Oecol 37:531–541CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Kitamura S, Yumoto T, Noma N, Chuailua P, Maruhashi T, Wohandee P, Poonswad P (2008) Aggregated seed dispersal by wreathed hornbills at a roost site in a moist evergreen forest of Thailand. Ecol Res 23:943–952CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Kitamura S, Thong-Aree S, Madsri S, Poonswad P (2011) Characteristics of hornbill dispersed fruits in lowland dipterocarp forest of southern Thailand. Raffles Bull Zoology 59(Suppl No. 24):137–147Google Scholar
  11. Leighton M (1986) Hornbill social dispersion: variations on a monogamous theme. In: Rubenstein DI, Wrangham RW (eds) Ecological aspects of social evolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 108–130Google Scholar
  12. Mohd-Azlan J, Lawes MJ (2011) The efficacy of protected areas and future challenges for wildlife conservation in Sarawak. In: Mazlin M, Sharina AH (eds) RIMBA2: regional sustainable development in Malaysia and Australia. LESTARI, Bangi, pp 136–146Google Scholar
  13. Mohd-Azlan J, Belant JL, Meijaard E (2013) Can secondary information inform about population trends of carnivores in Borneo? Raffles Bull Zool 61(Suppl No. 28):1–8Google Scholar
  14. Poonswad P, Sukkasem C, Phataramata S, Hayeemuida S, Plongmai K, Chuailua P, Thiensongrusame P, Jirawatkavi N (2005) Comparison of cavity modification and community involvement as strategies for hornbill conservation in Thailand. Biol Conserv 122:385–393CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • J. Mohd-Azlan
    • 1
  • Abas Said
    • 2
  • Sim Lee Kheng
    • 3
  • Oswald Braken Tisen
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Zoology, Faculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanMalaysia
  2. 2.Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology, Faculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanMalaysia
  3. 3.Biodiversity Conservation Department, Protected Areas & Biodiversity ConservationSarawak Forestry CorporationKuchingMalaysia

Personalised recommendations