The Visayan hornbill is a charismatic bird with a long decorative bill which looks like it has been carved by hand. It can only be found on two islands of the Philippines, where it is recognised as critically endangered on the national register so every breeding pair is vital for the future of the species. Matt Ward, Executive Director of the Talarak Foundation, tells the particularly touching love story from a special pair of hornbills in their reserve.
One of the key threats that has been driving the decline of the Visayan hornbill has been deforestation, with only tiny fragments of forest remaining on its home islands.
So when the Talarak Foundation were thinking about how to give this species the best chance at recovery in the wild, forest restoration had to be an important factor.
