Doomdooma: An injured Oriental Pied Hornbill was rescued by officials of the Doomdooma Forest Division in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Saturday after it was allegedly shot with a bow and arrow and tied up inside a kitchen, reportedly for consumption.
The incident took place at Phillobari Rongpur Gaon, where a purported video appears to show the injured bird restrained with ropes inside a household kitchen, raising concerns over suspected wildlife hunting.
Local youths alerted the forest department after learning about the incident. A team of forest officials subsequently reached the location and rescued the bird. The person allegedly responsible for shooting it reportedly fled upon seeing the officials arrive.
Forest officials confirmed the rescue and said the hornbill was placed under medical observation by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). Its condition and recovery prospects were not immediately known. Details of any action taken against the alleged perpetrator were also unavailable.
Reacting to the incident, wildlife conservationist Devajit Moran called for swift legal action against the person responsible.
“I demand legal action against the accused at the earliest,” Moran told Northeast Now.
He also stressed the need for greater public awareness about wildlife protection and urged local residents to report suspected hunting incidents to the authorities.
The rescued bird has been identified as the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), a distinctive species recognised by its prominent bill and contrasting black-and-white plumage.
Hornbills play a vital ecological role by dispersing seeds across forest habitats, contributing to biodiversity and supporting the natural regeneration of forests.
The incident has renewed concerns about the hunting of wild birds in Upper Assam and highlighted the importance of community participation in wildlife conservation. The timely alert from local youths enabled forest officials to intervene and rescue the injured bird.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended, prohibits unauthorised hunting of protected wildlife. The applicable legal provisions and potential penalties would depend on the species’ protection status and the findings of the investigation.
Further details regarding the hornbill’s condition and any subsequent legal action by the forest department are awaited.