MIRI: A hornbill, Sarawak’s most recognisable wildlife symbol, was rescued from an industrial site in Miri today after it was believed to have flown into a factory wall and collapsed from heat exhaustion.
Firefighters from the Lutong station were deployed at 4.30 pm to the factory located in Kuala Baram Estate, where the bird was found grounded inside the facility compound.
Responders said the hornbill appeared disoriented, dehydrated and unable to fly.
The team secured the bird before transferring it to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s Piasau Camp, where it was handed over to wildlife personnel for assessment and rehabilitation.
Preliminary findings indicate the bird may have struck part of the building structure, highlighting the risks faced by wildlife navigating increasingly built-up industrial corridors.
Hornbills, which rely on forest canopies for movement, are particularly vulnerable when natural habitats are fragmented or encroached upon.
The operation was led by Lutong fire station chief Henry Jugah and several crews.
They carried out the rescue using standard handling procedures to minimise stress to the bird.
The condition of the hornbill has yet to be formally assessed, but officials say its recovery will depend on whether it sustained internal injuries due to the impact.
