Sulawesi Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros cassidix)



The older genus name Rhyticeros might be seen in the literature (Kemp 1979). Other common names in use include: Red-knobbed hornbill, Island hornbill, Buton hornbill and Celebes hornbill.

Range, habitat, and status

This subspecies A. c. cassidix is restricted to the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Lembeh, and Togian, where it occurs in evergreen forests up to 1800m. In South Sulawesi, this species has been declared the state bird (Poonswad 1993). Kinnaird and O'Brien (1996) have documented high densities around fruiting trees but caution that the species may be declining as forest habitat is also declining. It is difficult to accurately census a nomadic species that congregates around fruiting trees; counts based on temporary, mobile aggregations may result in an exaggerated estimate of the population's true numbers. A second subspecies, A. c. brevirostris occurs on the islands of Buton and Muna. Kemp (1995) suggests that this form represents the southern end of a cline through Sulawesi.

Captive propagation

The first documented captive breeding in this region occurred at Audubon Park and Zoological Garden in 1991. Michi (1993) wrote about breeding this species at Walsrode Vogelpark at Mallorca, Spain.
Recent successful reproduction has occurred at Woodland Park Zoo and Audubon Park and Zoological Garden. Loss of one of the breeders at each of these institutions has resulted in acquiring new mates for the successful breeders. Presently, the only successful breeding occuring in this region is from two pairs at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. One female was raised there in 1999, and a male in 2000.