Southern Ground Hornbill
Scientific Name
Bucorvus leadbeateri
Range
From northern Namibia and Angola to northern South Africa and southern Zimbabwe to Burundi and Kenya
Habitats
Savannahs, grasslands, shrublands
What do they eat?
Small animals; reptiles, snails, & insects
Status
IUCN lists them as vulnerable, but they are endangered in South Africa
Conservation Threats
Habitat loss, deforestation, hunting, and indirect poisoning
- These are the largest species of hornbill
- Can live up to 60 years
- Live in large family groups that consist of a dominant breeding pair and “helpers”
- Have very long eyelashes which help to keep debris out of their eyes since they spend the majority of time on the ground