BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Zoo is mourning the loss of a northern ground hornbill, also known as an Abyssinian ground hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus), named North.
The 28 year-old bird hatched in Florida in June of 1996 and arrived at Maryland Zoo in 2013 to breed with the Zoo’s female, Blue, based on recommendation from the Northern Ground Hornbill Species Survival Plan (SSP) coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
After introductions the bird pair began laying eggs in June of 2015 but, as sometimes happens with animals, things didn’t initially go according to plan. Each time Blue laid eggs, North would destroy them. Keepers made changes each breeding cycle with the same result until, ultimately, they fashioned a portion of a wine barrel with an opening just wide enough for Blue to fit inside. That did the trick.
Their first chick hatched in July of 2023 and was named Everest. A subsequent chick, Rwenzori [RENZ-oree], aka Rwen for short, hatched in June of 2024.
North arrived at Maryland Zoo with mobility issues that had been stable for many years but worsened as he aged. Ultimately, the Zoo made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize North.
North’s big personality made him extremely popular and he would frequently walk to the fenceline carrying rocks or sticks to show off for Zoo guests and staff.
“Without a doubt, North was one of the most amazing and personable birds to ever enter our collection,” Kottyan said.
“He was able to be an ambassador for his species and later moved on to a breeding situation, where he not only produced one, but two offspring for the population. To say his presence will be missed would be an understatement.”
Click here for more information about Maryland Zoo’s hornbills.
Hornbill Conservation in The Wild
Maryland Zoo partners with the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project in South Africa – a conservation organization working to protect native habitats and regional populations of the birds.
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