Forest department has confirmed the sighting of wreathed hornbills at Khar village, wildlife warden K. Caroline, IFS of the wildlife division Dimapur, stated in a press release.
Following the reports of hornbill sightings by locals on January 5, officials of the wildlife division Dimapur were deputed to Mangkolemba, Caroline said.
The team was sent to Tenemtzuyong forest area along the route to Khar village where the locals had earlier sighted the hornbills. Though the team was unable to see the hornbills, they were able collect reliable information and tail feathers found from the area, she said.
The length of the tail feathers were fully white in color with the distinct characteristics of a wreathed hornbill found in the Northeast, Caroline added. Based on the information and the tail feathers, it was confirmed that the hornbills sighted by the locals were that of wreathed hornbills, she said.
Caroline said that the hornbills may have come to the area in search of food resource and nesting cavities as the breeding season of hornbills was near approaching.
Caroline was optimistic that if proper safety and conservation is made for the birds, the return of the hornbills permanently to the area could become a reality.
Acknowledging the efforts made by the Mangkolemba administration to ban locals from hunting, Caroline pointed out that the hornbills fall under Schedule-I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and persons hunting such animals and birds could be imprisoned up to 7 years with fine of up to Rs. 25000.