N° 8 Gentle Knife

CHF 16.00

What looks like dangerous knives are in fact the beaks of hornbills, a fascinating omnivorous family of endangered birds. They are characterised by a long, down-curved and brightly coloured beak that sometimes features a casque on the upper mandible. The size of these breathtaking beaks can reach up to half of the entire body.

The great hornbill has been under pressure for years from the ongoing deforestation and development of palm oil plantations. But it is the helmet sitting on top of its beak that is pushing this bird to the brink of extinction. The valuable red ivory is carved into ornaments or ground into dubiously effective pills used in traditional medicine. Seeing a hornbill fly is a one-of-a-kind experience. Let’s take action so we get to see it for years to come.

This is an interesting article from National Geographic about the threat to the great hornbill.