Stomper catches rare sight of hornbill in the heart of Tanjong Pagar
A passer-by was greeted by a hornbill along Cross Street in Tanjong Pagar on Dec 18.
Stomper Benny shared a photo and a video of the oriental pied hornbill that he spotted at around 6.10pm.
He joked: "Not every day you get a sighting of this rare bird. I think it is looking for directions to its job interview in the central business district."
While most Asian hornbills typically reside in forests, parks, gardens and wooded areas, the oriental pied hornbill is known to be very adaptable and can also be found in urban spaces, where it has been observed to tolerate a moderate level of human presence and activity.
According to the National Parks Board (NParks), the oriental pied hornbill disappeared from Singapore in the mid-1800s, likely due to hunting and loss of suitable habitats.
However, the species was spotted in Pulau Ubin in 1994 and has since been 'back from the dead'.
More info about the bird can be found here.
