Rhinoceros Hornbill Spotted on Trail Camera in Singapore After ~200 Years — Experts Call Sighting “Significant”

Rhinoceros Hornbill Recorded At Sungei Buloh — A Potential Return

Birdwatchers and wildlife specialists in Singapore were surprised when trail cameras captured a rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve — a species long thought to be locally extinct.

The Straits Times reported this could be the first potentially wild sighting in Singapore in about 200 years. Photographs and footage of the large black bird, notable for its red-orange bill and horn-like casque, drew birders and wildlife photographers to the reserve.

Why Experts Say This Matters

“Sightings of locally extinct bird species are significant, as they suggest our forests remain connected to the wider region,” said Raghav Narayanswamy, Vice President of the Bird Society of Singapore.

Conservationists say that if the individual is truly wild, its presence would be an encouraging sign for local ecosystems. Rhinoceros hornbills are important seed dispersers; the seeds they spread support forest regeneration, which in turn helps maintain food resources, air quality, timber supplies and recreational green spaces.

Wild Individual Or Escaped Captive?

Specialists caution that more investigation is needed to determine whether the Sungei Buloh bird is a wild visitor or an escapee from captivity in Singapore or nearby Johor. Professor Frank Rheindt suggested the bird was “likely a wandering individual from Peninsular Malaysia” and warned that loss of old-growth forests — including large cavity trees used for nesting — threatens hornbill populations.

Threats And Conservation Actions

Habitat loss, particularly conversion of forests to palm oil plantations, is a major driver of rhinoceros hornbill decline. Practical steps individuals can take include choosing products labeled as containing responsibly sourced palm oil and supporting conservation organizations such as BirdLife and the Hornbill Research Foundation. Local monitoring efforts — including trail cameras — are also vital for tracking movements and population trends.

Other conservation success stories — such as reintroductions and recoveries for species like the aplomado falcon and Gilbert’s potoroo — show that extinctions can sometimes be prevented or reversed with targeted effort.

What Comes Next

Researchers will study the footage and any subsequent sightings to assess the bird’s origin and condition. If confirmed wild, the sighting would boost hopes that Singapore’s remaining forest patches play a role in regional biodiversity networks and could inform future habitat restoration and protection efforts.