By Vikas Sir, Founder & Senior Faculty – Cosmo Classes | 14 July 2026
The Indian Grey Hornbill has returned to Gujarat's Gir forests after more than six decades, with released birds now surviving and breeding in the wild.
The Indian Grey Hornbill, also known as Chilotro, has been reintroduced into the Gir forests of Gujarat after an absence of more than six decades. A scientific study in the peer-reviewed journal Birds records that the reintroduced birds are surviving and breeding in the wild — a marker of a successful reintroduction. Track more biodiversity news in our daily English current affairs articles.
The Indian Grey Hornbill belongs to the family Bucerotidae, large birds recognised by a curved bill and a casque on the upper mandible. The Gir landscape is best known for Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in India. Revise Indian fauna in our environment & biodiversity notes.
The reintroduction programme released 40 hornbills in two phases, with a large share found breeding afterwards. Successful species reintroduction restores ecological balance and seed dispersal, strengthening India's conservation record — a theme in our exam-focused current affairs hub.
Exam Facts
- Species: Indian Grey Hornbill (local name: Chilotro).
- Family: Bucerotidae (hornbills).
- Location: Gir forests, Gujarat.
- Milestone: Returned after 60+ years; breeding in the wild.
- Programme: 40 birds released in two phases; study in journal Birds.
Quick Facts: Gir & Hornbill
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species reintroduced | Indian Grey Hornbill (Chilotro) |
| Habitat | Gir National Park & Sanctuary, Gujarat |
| Famous for | Only home of the Asiatic lion in India |
| Bird family | Bucerotidae (curved bill + casque) |
India & Species Conservation
India uses reintroduction and habitat protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and protected areas. The Gir hornbill success adds to conservation wins alongside the Asiatic lion. Exam takeaway: Gir is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion; the reintroduced bird is the Indian Grey Hornbill.
Practice Questions
Q1. Which bird was reintroduced into Gujarat's Gir forests after six decades?
A) Great Hornbill
B) Indian Grey Hornbill
C) Malabar Pied Hornbill
D) Rufous Hornbill
Show Answer
ANS. B. Indian Grey Hornbill.
Q2. Hornbills belong to which family?
A) Accipitridae
B) Bucerotidae
C) Ardeidae
D) Corvidae
Show Answer
ANS. B. Bucerotidae.
Q3. The Gir landscape is the only natural habitat of which animal?
A) Bengal tiger
B) One-horned rhino
C) Asiatic lion
D) Snow leopard
Show Answer
ANS. C. Asiatic lion.
Q4. The local name of the Indian Grey Hornbill is:
A) Chilotro
B) Dhanesh
C) Garud
D) Papeeha
Show Answer
ANS. A. Chilotro.
Q5. The reintroduction study was published in which journal?
A) Nature
B) Birds
C) Science
D) Cell
Show Answer
ANS. B. Birds.
Q6. Consider the following statements:
1. The Indian Grey Hornbill belongs to family Bucerotidae.
2. Gir is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in India.
3. The reintroduced hornbills failed to breed in the wild.
Which are correct?
A) 1 and 2
B) 2 and 3
C) 1 and 3
D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
ANS. A. The birds are breeding in the wild, so statement 3 is wrong.
UPSC / RPSC Relevance
UPSC Prelims: Species, families, protected areas, reintroduction programmes.
UPSC Mains – GS Paper III: Conservation, biodiversity and ecology.
RPSC / SSC: Environment current affairs, national parks & sanctuaries.
Mains Descriptive Question
GS Paper III: "Species reintroduction is an effective but complex conservation tool." Discuss with reference to the Indian Grey Hornbill in Gir. (250 words · 15 marks)
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