Cover image via The Borneo Post
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Firefighters rescued an injured hornbill after the bird was found barely alive at an industrial site in Miri, Sarawak, yesterday, 24 March
The hornbill, one of Sarawak's most iconic wildlife symbols, is believed to have flown into a factory wall before collapsing due to heat exhaustion.
According to Sarawak Tribune, personnel from the Lutong Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched at about 4.30pm after members of the public discovered the weakened bird on the ground at the Kuala Baram Estate.
Responders said the hornbill appeared disoriented, dehydrated, and unable to fly.
The rescue team secured the bird using standard wildlife handling procedures to minimise stress before handing it over to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, where it was taken to Piasau Nature Reserve for treatment and rehabilitation
The operation was led by Lutong fire station chief Henry Jugah and several personnel.
The hornbill's condition remains unclear. However, officials said its recovery will depend on whether it sustained any internal injuries from the impact.
Preliminary findings suggest the bird may have struck part of the building, highlighting the dangers wildlife face as industrial development expands into natural habitats
Hornbills depend heavily on forest canopies to move between areas, making them especially vulnerable when forests become fragmented.
The Borneo Post also reported that Miri has recently experienced prolonged hot weather and bushfires, resulting in hazy conditions that may have disoriented the bird.
