Recently, Matang has become home for a female rhinoceros hornbill, which is the state animal of Sarawak. These are magnificent birds, very large and listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

This bird was temporarily housed in the quarantine area while the large aviary opposite the orang-utan dens was re-worked by our July volunteers and a preliminary disease screen was carried out. The large aviary has been divided into two large spaces, one half intended for this new arrival and a pair of pied hornbills destined for the

other half.

It was great to see the rhinoceros hornbill literally spread her wings and take advantage of the larger space on the afternoon she was transferred.

Labels: hornbill, orangutan volunteer, sarawak orangutan volunteer