The bird is the youngest of the three Southern ground hornbills being cared for by the zoo, as part of its conservation programme to ensure the continued survival of the bird.
The fairly large, dark-feathered bird with a prominent orange bill felt the need to see what lay beyond the walls of the zoo when the recent rains uprooted a tree which collapsed on a section of the enclosure.
According to the managing director of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Bulumko Nelana, Tshukudu proved he could not be stopped when he squeezed through a hole, perched himself on a tree and gave the curator, Lara Jordan, and her team a bit of a run-around before he flew over the fenced-area of the Joburg Zoo.
Jordan, who is responsible for the Associated Private Nature Reserve (APNR) Ground Hornbill Conservation Project – which works in collaboration with the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute – said the bird is harmless but could prove otherwise if provoked.
Immediately, the zoo called on the services of a catch and rescue team to bring back the hornbill.
Tshukudu, with no worry of a curfew and a curious nature, didn’t make his way back to the zoo that night and was nowhere to be found.
Animal collection specialist, Piet Malepa, said as worried as the staff was, they anticipated that the bird would make his way back to the zoo as the hornbills are not used to being alone and are known to respond to the calling of their own groups.
“Knowing this, we contacted Montecasino as they also have hornbills as part of the Ground Hornbill Conservation Project,” said Piet.
“We also put up traps close to the other hornbill groups inside the zoo hoping that Tshukudu would fly back.”
The next day, on the morning of 7 March, Tshukudu’s hunger won over his urge to explore as the bird was spotted flying from tree to tree on the zoo’s premises.
“The curator, Lara, was able to trick the bird into the cage after using crickets as bate to get him down,” said Malepa.
The hornbill is now back safe and sound with his group at the Joburg Zoo.
