Gone for 60 Years, Indian Grey Hornbills Return to Gir — What It Reveals About the Forest

For the fourth year in a row, Indian grey hornbills have bred successfully in Gujarat’s Gir landscape. It is a milestone that represents much more than the return of a single bird. The species had vanished from Gir sometime between the 1950s and 1960s. Today, after a carefully planned reintroduction programme, the hornbills are nesting, raising chicks and establishing territories once again. Around 40 birds were released in phases between 2021 and 2023, and scientists now say the population is showing signs of becoming self-sustaining. For conservationists, this is a reason to celebrate. Fo...