WATCH: Endangered Female Wrinkled Hornbill Emerged From its Nest at Brevard Zoo

By  //  June 13, 2019

The youngster is the fifth offspring of female Morticia and male Gomez

ABOVE VIDEO: On June 8, an as-yet-unnamed wrinkled hornbill chick that hatched on April 12 emerged from its nest at Brevard Zoo. Its sex is not yet known. (Brevard Zoo Video)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – On June 8, an as-yet-unnamed wrinkled hornbill chick that hatched on April 12 emerged from its nest at Brevard Zoo. Its sex is not yet known.

The youngster is the fifth offspring of female Morticia and male Gomez, both of whom are approximately 26 years old.

Prior to laying her eggs, the female wrinkled hornbill uses a mixture of fruit, feathers and feces to seal herself in a nesting cavity.

Her mate delivers food through a tiny slit during the one-month incubation period and five-week-to-three-month nestling period.

The youngster is the fifth offspring of female Morticia and male Gomez, both of whom are approximately 26 years old. (Brevard Zoo image)

“It’s been seven years since Morticia and Gomez had their last clutch, so we were hopeful for more chicks, but didn’t know if it was possible,” said Michelle Smurl, director of animal programs at the Zoo.

“The wrinkled hornbill’s population is decreasing, and this chick is a glimmer of hope for its species.”

Native to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, the wrinkled hornbill is considered endangered due to habitat loss. As seed dispersers, these birds play an important role in rainforest ecology.

Prior to laying her eggs, the female wrinkled hornbill uses a mixture of fruit, feathers and feces to seal herself in a nesting cavity. (Brevard Zoo image)
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