SFC: Hornbill rescued in Kuala Baram to be rehabilitated, assessed before release

MIRI (March 26): An injured oriental pied hornbill rescued in Kuala Baram is undergoing treatment at Piasau Nature Reserve.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said the facility in Pulau Melayu is the primary sanctuary for Oriental Pied Hornbills here.

It said the male hornbill, weighing 750 grammes, was handed over by the Lutong fire station to SFC’s Miri Regional Office at around 5.20pm on Tuesday.

“Based on preliminary information, the bird sustained minor injuries after colliding with a building in the Kuala Baram area before being rescued by firefighters,” SFC said in a Facebook post.

Upon receiving the hornbill, SFC personnel found the bird to be less active and immediately conducted an initial health assessment followed by close monitoring to evaluate the extent of its injuries and recovery progress.

“Follow-up treatment will be carried out from time to time to ensure the bird stabilises before any decision is made regarding its release back into its natural habitat,” said SFC.

“This action is in line with SFC’s conservation approach of ‘rescue, rehabilitate and release’, which gives affected wildlife a second chance while supporting species sustainability and maintaining ecosystem balance.”

The corporation noted that the oriental pied hornbill, known as Bruie’ among the Iban community, has increasingly been recorded in urban areas such as Miri due to its high adaptability to changing habitats.

SFC said this development increases the risk of negative interactions between wildlife and urban development, including incidents of building encroachment that could affect the safety and well-being of these birds.

It advised the public not to disturb, capture, or approach hornbills, particularly in residential or urban areas, and to report wildlife-related incidents to the authorities for prompt and safe action.

SFC stressed that cooperation between rescue agencies, authorities, and the public is crucial in strengthening wildlife conservation efforts in Sarawak.