Straits Times Forum 28 Mar 09;
I REFER to Tuesday's article, 'Wild hornbill seeks Mr Right'.
While I applaud the effort taken by agencies and their partners to focus on wildlife issues in Singapore, I cannot help but ask what the scientific purpose of this introduction is.
The lonesome Rhino Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), though wild, has an unknown citizenship. Its origin is questionable. It has historical presence but the species almost became extinct 50 years ago due to rapid urban development and massive deforestation.
This escapee is not alone. It has a companion in another specimen of a different species, the Great Pied Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), also a female. There is also a lone Narcondam Hornbill (Rhyticeros narcondami), as well as the native Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthrococeros albirostirs convexus) which has made a healthy comeback in Pulau Ubin thanks to the Singapore Hornbill Project. This diverse exotic presence speaks volumes about the Singapore bird trade.
My question is: Are there any markers of the Singapore Rhino Hornbill sub-species to compare DNA with? Wouldn't the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore have these markers since it is a native species?
If there are no genuine, credible markers of the Singapore sub-species, how are we to make comparisons with the DNA of other Rhino Hornbill sub-species? There is no point introducing sub-species from Indonesia, Malaysia or Thailand just for the sake of reintroduction. That is not how science works.
Reintroduction is a noble gesture, but it requires an immense amount of homework. Do we have enough habitat cover to sustain the species viably? Hornbills nest in old tree cavities. How many of these old tree cavities are left?
Artificial nestboxes should be a temporary solution, not a permanent fixture.
After its long absence, will the re-emergence of the Rhino Hornbill create an imbalance in the ecosystem? Should it flourish, who will guarantee it is safe from poachers? The very rare, less charismatic Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) is often poached from reserves.
The project is well-intended but I feel the objective is not clear. We did well with the Oriental Pied Hornbill. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but let us be realistic. I suggest funding be directed at greening remaining vacant land and that the clearing of forest patches be stopped.
Public education is also important. The species will come back if the habitat is stable and protected. There is no point breeding birds if there is not enough habitat to sustain them.
Haniman Boniran
