IPOH: The Royal Belum State Park has remained a “hornbill capital” for the past decade, says the Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (Ecomy). Ecomy president and chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian explained that Royal Belum, known as one of the oldest rainforests in the world, is the only place where 10 hornbill species coexist. Nine hornbill species live in Royal Belum year-round, while plain-pouched hornbills are the sole migratory visitors. The 10 species in Royal Belum are the oriental pied hornbill, black hornbill, bushy crested hornbill, white-crowned hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, great hornbill, plain-pouched hornbill, helmeted hornbill, wrinkled hornbill and wreathed hornbill. “This will entice poachers to target it as our birds in Royal Belum are doing fairly well.

Source: The Star January 02, 2026 01:00 UTC