Hornbills (hornbills) are birds consisting of 57 species that are spread across Asia and Africa. 14 of them are in Indonesia. Among the hornbills, the ivory hornbill is the largest in size, with its head, beak and horns covering its forehead. The ivory hornbill is one of 14 species of hornbills in Indonesia and is the mascot for the province of West Kalimantan. Because the number of birds is decreasing, it is included in the species of fauna that are protected by law
The animal that is protected by its young age has a white beak and crown. As it ages, its beak and crown will change color to orange and red, as a result of the hornbill's frequent swiping of its beak back, producing the orange-red color located under its tail. This bird adds fig leaves as its favorite food, but not infrequently it also eats insects, mice, and even small birds.
Hornbills have a habit of living in pairs and how to lay their eggs is a special attraction. At the beginning of the laying period, male birds make holes that are located high in the tree trunk for nesting and laying of female birds. During incubation, the female hides to cover the hole with leaves and mud with a hole for the window.
Then the male bird feeds the female through a small hole during the incubation period, and continues until their young grows into a young bird. For this reason, this hornbill is used as an example of life for Dayak people to socialize in order to always love and love their life partner and raise their children to become independent and mature Dayak people.
Hornbills usually perch on tall trees, before flying hornbills give a signal by making a loud sound. When it is in the air, the hornbills' wings make a dramatic sound. These birds live in groups of about 2 to 10 per tree. Sometimes birds fly together in numbers of between 20-30 birds. The sound of this hornbill is very distinctive and very loud as if calling out to his friends behind a shady tree. Egg season is from April to July and the chicks help the adult male birds provide food for the female bird and her newly hatched chicks.
In the culture of the Dayak tribe of Kalimantan, hornbills are always a part of it. Myths and stories behind hornbills vary in each region, one of these myths says that the hornbill is the incarnation of the Bird Commander. Panglima Burung is a figure who lives in the inland mountains of Kalimantan and has a supernatural form and will only be present during war. Generally, these birds are considered sacred and are not allowed to be hunted or eaten. If a hornbill is found dead, the body is not disposed of. The head is used for headdress. The hornbill's hard-boned head frame will keep its shape. Even this headdress may only be used by respectable people.
But now hornbills are rare birds that are very difficult to find in Kalimantan forests, this is due to the ongoing destruction of Borneo's forests, such as logging of forests, both illegal logging and for palm oil plantations. The fate of this hornbill is now the same as that of the Dayak tribe in Borneo, who are increasingly marginalized in their own land. This is also exacerbated by rampant hunting by the local community. The price for each hornbill's head is valued at Rp. 2.5 million. Due to the high price, many inland residents compete to hunt for these birds in the forest.