Dhemaji:A wreathed hornbill ( Rhyticeros undulatus), was found at Pasighat deputy commissioner's residential compound in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh by a guard on Tuesday.
It had no injury mark that led to speculation that it was suffering from viral disease and fell while flying.
Hornbill is a schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
On being informed by the guards, deputy commissioner Tamiyo Tatak called up district veterinary officer (DVO) Jikom Panor.
Panor checked the bird and Kalen Panggeng, range forest officer, Borguli range, Daying Ering wildlife sanctuary, was told to take the bird to the sanctuary.
Panggeng, however, suggested that the hornbill be taken care of in Pasighat or sent to Itanagar Zoological Park for better care.
The bird is currently being looked after in Pasighat by Panor. Panor said if the bird suffers from any infection, it needs to be studied and examined by ornithologists as these are rare birds whose number is already dwindling because of rampant poaching.
Asked about the possible reason of an in-flight bird's falling down, Panor told this correspondent that it could have contracted viral disease as there was no external injuries. "Because of severe cold at higher altitude after recent rain and hailstorms, the bird must have tried to fly towards the plainswhere the temperature is comparatively warm," he said.
The guards said they had seen a flock of hornbills flying the previous day and it must be one of them.
"The hornbill is not eating at the moment and is on a liquid diet such as glucose," Panor said, hinting at minimal chance of its survival.
There are five hornbill species found in Arunachal Pradesh - great hornbill ( Buceros bicornis), rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis), Austen's brown hornbill ( Anorrhinus austeni), wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) and oriental pied hornbill ( Anthracoceros albirostris).
The wreathed hornbill, also known as the bar-pouched wreathed hornbill, is a species found in forests in the Northeast.
