Well, nothing new in that! Our local birds such as the muniyas, make it as far
as The Netherlands…and several falcons such as the Shaheen Falcon to The Middle
East!!!!!!!! At least the poor Hornbill didn't have to travel out of India! I
am sure if several houses in the respective countries/continents, are raided
then am sure the officials would find birds enough to open up a Zoo dedicated
only to the birds!!!!!!!!!!!

Warm Regards
Radhika Singh

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Health-Science/Earth/Flora-Fauna/Endangered-b\
ird-found-in-Auroville-home/articleshow/4754551.cms

Endangered bird found in Auroville home
8 Jul 2009, 2202 hrs IST, PTI


PUDUCHERRY: Forest officials have traced a 'Great Indian Hornbill', an
endangered species of bird, to the house of a German national in

Auroville, an official said.

Instructions have been issued to department staff to seize the female bird under
the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, a senior official of the Forest Department at
Villupuram in neighbouring Tamil Nadu said.

The official said the German National Thomas was allegedly keeping the bird in
his home for nearly 12 years. On a tip-off the forest department officials
traced the bird to the German national's house yesterday.

A special cage was being got ready to take the bird to Vandalur zoo in Chennai.

The bird is listed under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and keeping
it without valid permission was violative of the Act, he said.

'The bird measures nearly 150 cms in height and its wings are so broad that it
had got to be handled carefully.The bird's beak is also too long. Such types of
birds will normally be seen in Western Ghats and they are delicate', he said.

Auroville is outside the jurisdiction of Puducherry, a forest department
official here said.