The unidentified female hornbill, which died after it was attacked by stray dogs in the nature reserve.
MIRI (March 11): A female hornbill has died after it was attacked by stray dogs at Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR).
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Miri chairman Musa Musbah disclosed this in a Facebook post earlier today (March 11).
Musa, in his post, said MNS has been informed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) about the death of the female hornbill and the identification of the bird is still in progress.
Both parties have also identified nesting holes at PNR at the ground level.
“While she (the female hornbill) was in the hole, a group of dogs that were roaming freely at the nature reserve grabbed the hornbill rom the nesting hole. She was hurt badly.
The hornbill’s nesting hole located on the ground level at the base of a tree.
“The bird was left struggling for her life when a SFC staff who was stationed to look after the nest managed to chase the dogs away. The hornbill was quickly sent to a vet but died later,” the former SFC honorary wildlife ranger revealed.
Musa added that it is sad that the issue of stray dogs at PNR was addressed but being protested by dog lovers, and the Miri City Council (MCC) could not do their job to remove the dogs and cats from the nature reserve.
When contacted, Musa said that he was informed of the incident by the park warden on March 1 but SFC had only given permission to him to disclose it publicly recently.
According to Musa, there are three birds currently nesting in PNR.
“The hornbills that are nesting are Jimmy and Juliet, Jool and Aboi and this one is not really confirmed yet.
“We are now still trying to search for Anthony, the mate of a female hornbill named Alice, who we believe to be this female hornbill which was attacked,” he added.
The post Female hornbill dies after being attacked by stray dogs at Piasau Nature Reserve appeared first on Borneo Post Online.