Context:
In a rare ecological event, the Great Hornbill (Malamuzhakki Vezhambal)—Kerala’s State Bird and an endangered species—was recently sighted in Kakkampara near Ezhimala, a coastal region of Kannur district, far from its traditional forest habitats.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Listed as Endangered.
- Legal Protection: Covered under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, ensuring maximum protection.
- Habitat Anomaly:
- Typically found in the evergreen and moist deciduous forests of Kerala—Silent Valley, Nelliampathy, Aralam, Athirappilly, and Parambikulam.
- The appearance in a coastal zone is highly unusual and ecologically significant.
