The mission of the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project is to reverse the decline of the Southern Ground-hornbill in South Africa.
At present, the International Union for Conservation of Nature consider the Southern Ground-hornbills as 'vulnerable' throughout their sub-equatorial range in Africa, but within South Africa and Namibia they have already been classified as 'Endangered'. Population numbers outside of the formally protected areas still declining towards being "Critically Endangered" in South Africa.
The reasons for the decline is predominantly due to loss of habitat to bush-encroachment and development, overgrazing, large-scale monoculture, loss of large nesting trees, besides secondary poisoning, lead toxicosis from spent lead ammunition and electrocution on transformer boxes.
To secure a ecologically stable Southern Ground-hornbills population in South Africa requires reducing all current threats – poison, persecution, electrocution, trade and increasing community engagement. These activities are achieved by the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project in collaboration with local communities, collaborators and stakeholders with the intention of being a world-class conservation programme.
Support the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project to ensure that the thunder or rain bird can continue to roam free the African savannas and grasslands.
The Mabula Ground Hornbill Project is a registered Non-Profit Organisation 016-183 NPO | PBO 13/00/00/723
Visit the site: ground-hornbill.org.za
