The species is listed as globally vulnerable and have been up listed to endangered in 2014 in South Africa. The Mabula Ground Hornbill Project, BirdLife Species Guardian, is working to reverse the decline by reintroducing the ‘doomed’ second chicks into areas where the species has become locally extinct, mitigating threats, undertaking an extensive education and awareness campaign in areas where the birds still occur, and providing artificial nests for wild groups.
It is known as the summer or the rain bird, anywhere where you would find this species; from Southern Kenya all the way down to the Eastern Cape. The cultural protection associated with this bird is phenomenal.
— Lucy Kemp - Conservation biologist
We are down to about four breading groups left in this country, which means we have moved from endangered to critically endangered species. Caused by jackals and human beings who use poison baits.
— Lucy Kemp - Conservation biologist
This article first appeared on 702 : Southern Ground-Hornbill: Ways to conserve this endangered species