The great hornbill is the largest member of the hornbill family. They can weigh up to 4 kg and reach up to 130cm tall. Their unique casques are thought to help amplify their loud calls. Found in South and Southeast Asia, they primarily feed on fruit and help in rainforest seed dispersal.

The great hornbill is the largest member of the hornbill family. They can weigh up to 4 kg and reach up to 130cm tall. Their unique casques are thought to help amplify their loud calls. Found in South and Southeast Asia, they primarily feed on fruit and help in rainforest seed dispersal.

Meet Joa

Joa (meaning ‘sap’ or ‘resin’) was rescued as a chick by the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team in 2016 from a market outside of the Phnom Penh airport and transported to the nursery at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center. The dedicated nursery staff cared for him as he grew into a young fledgling. However, it soon became apparent that the hot climate in the dry dipterocarp forest of Phnom Tamao was not the most suitable habitat for him and he was quickly transferred to the Wildlife Release Station in the Cardamom Mountains!

The keepers at the Station allowed him to move freely around camp, only putting him in an enclosure overnight to protect him from predators. He would follow the keepers about their daily tasks, hopping about the camp as he had not yet developed flight feathers! Now 5 years old, he has grown into a handsome hornbill, able to fly where he pleases in the surrounding forest, though his curiosity (and the free food) keeps him to his old ways and he is often found investigating the team’s activities and football games around camp!

This amazing bird is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list of endangered species, at threat from habitat destruction and hunting for the use of their casque in traditional medicine. Their casque is used by males for aerial casque butting during territorial disputes. Males and females mate for life and during nesting season the female builds a nest in the hollow of a tree and seals up the entrance using feces, only leaving a small hole by which she and the 1-2 chicks are brought food by the male. 

If you sponsor Joa today you will be ensuring that we are able to continue supporting his life in the wild and his cheeky activities at the Wildlife Release Station! For as long as he needs it, with your help, we can provide him with footballs, supplementary food and any emergency care. 

Meet Joa

Joa (meaning ‘sap’ or ‘resin’) was rescued as a chick by the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team in 2016 from a market outside of the Phnom Penh airport and transported to the nursery at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center. The dedicated nursery staff cared for him as he grew into a young fledgling. However, it soon became apparent that the hot climate in the dry dipterocarp forest of Phnom Tamao was not the most suitable habitat for him and he was quickly transferred to the Wildlife Release Station in the Cardamom Mountains!

The keepers at the Station allowed him to move freely around camp, only putting him in an enclosure overnight to protect him from predators. He would follow the keepers about their daily tasks, hopping about the camp as he had not yet developed flight feathers! Now 5 years old, he has grown into a handsome hornbill, able to fly where he pleases in the surrounding forest, though his curiosity (and the free food) keeps him to his old ways and he is often found investigating the team’s activities and football games around camp!

This amazing bird is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list of endangered species, at threat from habitat destruction and hunting for the use of their casque in traditional medicine. Their casque is used by males for aerial casque butting during territorial disputes. Males and females mate for life and during nesting season the female builds a nest in the hollow of a tree and seals up the entrance using feces, only leaving a small hole by which she and the 1-2 chicks are brought food by the male. 

If you sponsor Joa today you will be ensuring that we are able to continue supporting his life in the wild and his cheeky activities at the Wildlife Release Station! For as long as he needs it, with your help, we can provide him with footballs, supplementary food and any emergency care.