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Friday, February 8, 2008

Rhinoceros,Bali starling and hornbills what can beat these?


Hi I am Darius and I am going to share with you guys about rhinocros, hornbills and Bali starlings! Isn't that cool!




Rhinoceros

A Three-toed footprint in dying sand on a river bank in Ujang Kulon National Park, West Java, is a sight many visitors hope to see. Javan rhinoceros, formerly well spread throughout Southeast Asia is now found only in the forest at the extreme tip of West java and in Vietnam. A recent survey of the park suggests that there are only 4 rhinos remaining. Despite their rarity, they are still threatened by poachers. Rhino horn fetches a high price in China and Korea because of its alleged aphrodisiac powers and antipyretic quality. The smallest living member of the rhinoceros family, the Sumatran rhinoceros. Once they were spread throughout the whole of Southeast Asia, this inhabitant of low montane forests is now found only in isolate pockets of habitat in Burma, Thailand, Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. The whole total world population is to be between 500 to 900 animals but as many as ten percent of these could be lost every year.



Hornbills

The raucous hornbills are among the most frequently encountered birds of Indonesia's tropical forests. A loud rhythmic wing beat following by a deep whooshing sound announces the approach of a hornbills. Hornbills are unmistakable birds, frequently found in feeding in fig trees as figs are their preferable choice of food. Many species are predominantly black, with the whitish neck and pale fringes on their wings. The bills of most hornbills are disproportionately large in comparison to the size of their head. A strong downward pointing beak is adorned by a large usually hollow casque on the upper surface. The shape and colour of these casque vary considerably according to the species. For example, the great rhinoceros hornbill has a red and yellow upturned casque, similar to a banana in shape, while the wrinkled hornbill has a much smaller, slightly pointed, ruby casque. Besides their interesting variety, hornbills are engage in a range of breeding strategies. They are monogamous and nest in trees, preferring tall diptorocarps which offer some protection from terrestrial predators. As an added precaution, however, once the female enters cavity large enough to accommodate herself and her future clutch, she fills the opening with tree bark, mud and food debris. She may be assisted by males. After which she would be in it till the chicks had been fledged. During that period, the female will be dependent on a male. When the chick had been fledge, the female will break down the tough casing and emerge again.

Bali starling

Ruthless over collecting of the beautiful Bali starling almost resulted it to be extinct in the wild.



[11:26 AM]


Posted at 11:26 AM, 3 Comment(s)


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