Mpemane

The southern ground hornbill are found solely within Africa, and is the largest species in the hornbill order worldwide.

Southern ground hornbills are carnivorous and hunt mostly on the ground. Their food ranges from insects to small vertebrates. Their nests are often found in high tree cavities or other shallow cavities, such as rock holes in cliff faces.

These birds are a long-lived species, having lifespans in the range of 50–60 years, and up to 70 in captivity. In relation to their long lives, they do not reach sexual maturity until 4–6 years old, and begin breeding around 10 years old. Their sex can be identified by the colour of their throats: the male's is pure red and the female's is a deep violet-blue.

Southern ground hornbills are a culturally pervasive and important species in southern Africa. The Kruger National Park located within South Africa, lists southern ground hornbills as one of their ‘Big Six’ bird species.

Their numbers have been declining, due in part to persecution, habitat destruction, cultural beliefs, and other factors. They are listed globally as endangered.Read more