Black Market Demand for 'Red Ivory' Is Dooming This Rare Bird | Short Film Showcase

The rare and beautiful helmeted hornbill is vanishing at an alarming rate from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Prized for their red keratin “helmets,” this unique large bird species has been so heavily poached it is now more endangered than elephants.
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Further exacerbating the problem, the species only breeds once a year and hatches just one chick at a time. Since the females rely on the males for food, the poaching of the male is also a death sentence for the female and her chick.
Although wealthy buyers in China drive the black market demand today, native people in Borneo have carved hornbill casques into intricate ornamental pieces for more than 2,000 years. In this short documentary, filmmaker Luca Verducci pulls back the the curtain on this illegal trade by following both a poacher and conservation photographer in their search for the critically endangered species.
Learn more about the plight of the helmeted hornbills here.
news.nationalgeographic.com/2...
About filmmaker Luca Verducci: www.inventati.org/lucaverducci/
About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.
Black Market Demand for 'Red Ivory' Is Dooming This Rare Bird | Short Film Showcase
• Black Market Demand fo...
National Geographic
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[@NatGeo]

Last November, the helmeted hornbill’s conservation status jumped from “near-threatened” to “critically endangered,” which is just one level away from extinction. What do you think can be done to preserve this precious species?

[@WiL_M87]

National Geographic with all the money you National Geographic make, what are you going to do about it?

[@jetmyamstaff]

The only way to preserve this or any other species is to hand out really harsh jail time such as minimum 10 years if caught so that the poachers will think twice rather than a slap on the risk & they’re back at it again. The government needs to step in & take a stand on this issues before it’s too late😡😡😡

[@theoldschooldiva374]

National Geographic How can I help?

[@DistractingTest]

We need more sanctuaries to protect these endangered species like the ones used in African safari land preserves. The locals make money off of tourists rather than being forced to sell fake bird parts to fools to survive. It's a win-win for locals and the environments. Governments can help set these up, but it can also be done privately with some local initiative.

[@catperson8045]

I wish it was like the old times- executing people. That way, we could kill people who kill these precious birds. And then there would be less people attempting to kill birds. And animals. This idea is more like a dream. *Shrug*

[@Krakenjmed]

Imagine how beautiful the rainforest would be with no human interaction…

[@TURK_182]

Andrew Medina the natives live in harmony with the land, not all people destroys it, but yea it would be pretty nice

[@jonathanshepard1517]

agreed

[@leciramaraya608]

We can't imagine it. as humans also show the beauty of forest to the world. If we don't have interactions then we don't know what's within these forests. We just have to get rid of those Chinese and collectors. No demand no supply

[@vakavayaa]

IKR THAT WOULD BE SO PRISTINE AND MAGNIFICENTNFNFNDNDN

[@sleepn_on_me2473]

It would be a gruesome mess of kill or be killed There is settled agriculture However animals are ruthless And populations without control end up fluctuating on who’s turn it is I’m assuming apex predators have no competition

[@safron2442]

Didn't know this species was also decreasing in Population. Its so sad. Most people know about the rate that species are going extinct but only around 1 in 1000 people will even consider helping.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

That's why we have to learn about Resource Based Economy and stop living with obsolete values such as money, individualism and ownership.

[@evilbilla]

If u say 1/1000 will help and there being 7 billion on the planet that would equal 100s if not 1000s per bird to help. That's allot of ppl. I think your statement is missing several zeros to be acurate. Sadly in order to keep endangered species alive we have to keep them in captivity and at this point even that isn't a proven safe measure. With all of the science and technology you would think we could build secure underground reserves to simulate natural habitat that can be expanded as the species grows. Poachers should be shot on site in my book corprol punishments worked it was when our laws favored the criminals and many countries had no choice but to just give up all together that we lost some amazing creatures. Humanity can't help itself let alone it's environment and everything in it. Until we stop worrying about materialistic items and start worrying about each other and everything around us we will continue to loose until nothing is left but pictures of what was

[@isshinish]

They are unhappy because the hornbill population is going down. That means less bird to hunt and less money to make. Most of these pouchers are farmers. They should just go back to their day jobs. Human nature is to be greedy and these men are greedy. They see the bird as just another bird and never understand its ecological importance.

[@cody8190]

more like middle eastern are greedy an northern polticians who condone it you do not see the west or russia europe killing off species you only see the middle easterns eating an killing every thing that breathes on the planet sea sponges armadillo elephant rhino giraffe all these creatures also give you a sedative - euphoric effect the middile east is killing most of these for medications an a quick fix to forget about your problems your own goverment not to mention the middile eastern politicians fund all this you land in prison there you might be stuck on shark fishing vessel for four years before you even get a chance to run away on land again... oh if only humans would realize there unhappy cause of goverment intervention big corporate profiteers an more they might be able to get somewhere to bad your parents went through the same reeducation camps as you so the hope... well...

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

That's why we have to learn about Resource Based Economy and stop living with obsolete values such as money, individualism and ownership. Human nature is not greedy, you care about these birds you see. You become who you are with the values you have been raised. Changing our culture and values are crucial.

[@fatimahzahara7774]

Watching this makes me sad.. I'm a Sabahan and live in Borneo since I was born..last week I just saw a pair of Hornbill flew above my car while driving.. as I grew up, I can see the population of this bird are going down cause I saw less and less of them..

[@NatGeo]

Thank you for sharing your story, Emma! We too are deeply concerned for the wellbeing of the hornbill population and hope to see the return of their numbers in the foreseeable future.

[@fatimahzahara7774]

National Geographic thank you for reading my comment 💕 you guys are the best

[@redzyrezali2587]

Sedih 😔

[@charlenejoyce9052]

I think we should educate the people who live in the rural areas. Most of the time they were the ones that haunt them. Visited the Kelabit tribe and guess what's for lunch? Hornbills. I feel sad as fellow Dayak that lives in Kuching

[@Miimu5210]

"We don't have other jobs to do. That's the only way to get money." Nah. If you live in any civilized nation, you can find some kind of human labor, no matter how menial it is. How much did those boats and guns and ammunition cost, I wonder?

[@ConnorDrawss]

-R. Yep.

[@upbeathightuned9152]

(just wanted to join the conversation against poachers) The poachers know that killing the bird that people say that it has a medical cure is not true and yet they still do it anyway I mean what the heck that's just plain(scratch that it's ironically, stupidly dumb) dumb and stupid and the poor pangolin is being hunted for wine and that's disgusting also the guy with he's "private collection" of the the beak so he doesn't need anymore next what if people don't want to buy the beaks the hunting and poaching will be a waste for nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(catching breath) (so anyone else want to oppose poaching?)

[@sipsofhell9018]

utsman zulhakim yes its never your fault, so typical

[@cody8190]

this is the back fire of governments demoralizing there countys whats next kids in china snorting paint thinner to get hi oh wait...that already happens worldwide then will teach the children in school to rat out there familys for using real remedies will trick them an mess them up so bad in reeducation camps will have them snorting there own toe nails an have prostitution everywhere will have the males act like woman an we the politicians will come in an steal them will attack your family an profit off your marriage till your divorce we will use AI an computers to target weaker negligent individuals with subliminal messaging an more will have your sister tattle to police on your your mother calls them on your father an will have your neighbors peeking through there windows at you to make a dollar who am I babylon?

[@thenobleist9262]

Do you know where Borneo is, or what it's like there? Oh, you saw a thirteen minute video, clearly you understand all you need to.

[@xotimojaco2540]

There is a plant based ivory type palm nut that could be grown in much of this region called tagua. Tagua nut is a substitute for ivory.

[@amanyamani6951]

Thanks for the info. Im in borneo btw this could be really usefull

[@Adriana-rh6sg]

That’s interesting, I never heard of that! Perhaps instead of murdering helpless elephants, rhinoceroses, and other animals with ivory, people could create Tagua nut farms. The only problem I can think of right off the bat is that planting and growing takes time, and many poachers are greedy and would rather make quick bucks 😒

[@vakavayaa]

but they can be invasive since tagua is native to south america

[@jfalcon9519]

The kill a beautiful bird to make an awful and ugly ornament,this world is doomed

[@lewysnicholas3063]

This actually makes me feel sick why would people hunt a species to the brink of extinction just for what they’re horns or beaks are made of because it makes the owners look rich and it come a price of an animals life the animals can’t help it!

[@SGrayMe]

Going after poachers is just grabbing at "low hanging fruit" of problem, instead of getting to the source - that there's a demand. The buyers of the goods should be the ones that should face the most punishment. Conservation efforts related to other species have started employing dummies to not only track where the poached goods are going, but to dilute the market. Perhaps some people would help getting tech involved here.

[@salsabilahawa5021]

This creature is definitely elegant

[@NatGeo]

Aren't they beautiful? These birds are also one of the most important seed dispersers in the forests of Southeast Asia, critical for maintaining the ecosystem’s health.

[@keoke3825]

As a Sabahan, this is just disappointing. These arrogant peoples in china make me sick.

[@journeylandband]

Good job. I appreciate you for spreading this awareness throughout the world 🌍

[@upbeathightuned9152]

The bird is so jaw dropping beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! (hate you poachers why don't you guys hunt something that won't go extinct?!)

[@vakavayaa]

UpBeat HighTuned still if u hunt them continuosly they will go extinct

[@3lawie1]

This is so sad, that bird will probably go extinct..

[@Joseph-nm5xu]

"If you kill one male bird, you kill 3 birds " sadest part 😭

[@AzlianaLyana]

This is really sad. It's a really beautiful bird too. I wish the law were harsher towards poachers. Make it harsher depending on how rare the species they hunt is. I hope these birds won't go anytime soon. I want the generations to come to still be able to see them. Thank you National Geographic for sharing.

[@rdccs5122]

Azliana Lyana in some places poachers are shot and killed. It still doesn't stop them.

[@morganlast5498]

Yeah how nice of NatGeo to shelter a poacher and try to make his pathetic story be heard. This channel totally cares about the planets animals, totally.

[@bittyb0t]

Poachers deserve the death penalty.

[@Dest1n7]

Thanks for sharing this

[@user-chardonneret]

How beautiful nature

[@flipcrippin22]

"We use a rifle with bullets" So do I buddy...so do i.

[@user-chardonneret]

What a beautiful nature

[@kushine_]

Gotta say, the subtitles misses out a lot of what they say

[@DBT1007]

Zachary Bell because some words doesn't have meaning in english language.

[@kushine_]

Yeah, but they remove some parts of what they say in malay

[@zegzezon5539]

*_Hats off!_* _to Mr. Prudente!_ Your name is not only very much congruent to your cause; but also a *noble* one; albeit a perilous cause!

[@dianabolanos9766]

Incredible video

[@Yoalfi]

How sad,human's the worst of the predatory chain. How ignorance are destroying the beautiful wild life.

[@khairulazlan5318]

Rhinoceros Hornbills are beautiful. Dumb poachers. I was lucky I found a hornbill trapped in a net here in my village in Miri, Sarawak. Me and my cousin cut the bird free then released it. As we were about to leave the area, the owners of the net called us out "why did u let it go?! It was good to eat! (in indonesian language/ they were taking care of the land of their employer)". Me and my cousin threatened them on calling the police and their employer if they do anything illegal. And they backed off. We felt a huge relief that we were able to get the Hornbill just in time before the killers does.

[@Teruhapkokat]

what area is this in?

[@ratatataraxia]

I wish they would stop the ambient background music when highlighting the birds call. Very distracting.

[@idkok5747]

As a sabahan,this breaks my heart

[@paulcal6476]

How sad.. this bird are very beautiful and fantastic.

[@fronkus4412]

I am so lucky I saw a pair of these

[@joachimcarlos4435]

Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to see these birds in their natural habitat,I was born in Borneo but I've never seen this birds irl,i have also noticed that most of the poachers are from Indonesia >:[

[@marystachowiak7272]

Catching the buyers and Jailing them to stop the pipeline, might also be of help...

[@nainijoitol2416]

I have an information for the Wild life Rangers. Recently I showed the pygmy elephant of Sabah to one Timorese (Indonesian) . He said that in Timor the Elephant,s Ivory is sought after because in their culture it is ask for as a Dowry.

[@paulinadeluca9117]

Noooooooo!! I didn't know Sandshrew was becoming extinct!!! 😭😭😭

[@SICK562CKRISS]

I have 3 of these in my backyard

[@truemonarch7205]

Its not great feeling to find endangered animals you just feel sad and emotional because they have been through alot.

[@firestartermoogi56]

It's heartbreaking and disgusting to see creatures hunted for nothing more than making money! There are plenty more ways to earn a living and hunt for food. If greedy rich people didn't demand the so-called "trophies" the animals would be safe. Yes, hunt for the sake of putting food in your belly but not for money.

[@FrankiePwnd]

This is so sad and I hope the bird doesn't become extinct, like a lot of other animals due to poaching. Hopefully one day people will realise they don't need to sacrifice pigs either. It's not ok to kill any animal for human gain in my mind. The pig, to me, is just as valuable in the world as the helmeted hornbill.

[@mehi9285]

Sad part is I saw the first hornbill in my whole in my whole life living in borneo Island in an unfortunately circumstances. The bird stopped on the tree right besides palm plantation. I lived in that area for 5 years, the palm plantation done more harm than good. The temperature at night is increasing. 😭😭 I believe the whole forest in the nearby area will be wipe out for palm plantation. I dunno what to do to stop deforestation.

[@noobiemarksman1441]

Did i just see national geographic guys going into the forest with poachers.

[@himanshudoshi26]

This bird is majestic and beautiful. What is the data for 2022 ? I hope they're doing good.

[@watjejanssen7535]

cant even see this docu any longer sorry !

[@shurhongukire4306]

We celebrate Hornbill festival on December 1-10 . Northeast India ( Nagaland state)

[@fullmetalalvarez6202]

beautiful bird

[@deeraines9416]

As much as the videographers need to get the story out there to help protect these beautiful birds...i have to wonder if it makes them as sick to their stomachs seeing this happening as it it making me sick to see the poachers killing the species.

[@ctaco5112]

I don’t care what sob story he gave that DOES NOT JUSTIFY WIPING OUT AN ENTIRE SPECIES!!!!

[@AdiHanifWD]

Your grandchild maybe will not be able to see this bird again.

[@blondetip9067]

MAYBE, the birds got smart and migrated somewhere less dangerous?When the poachers say they feel bad for doing what they're doing that right there should tell you it's wrong.... Since when is a life better dead? Y'all could have studied these birds made them a big deal for people to invest & make money that way? So many things I want to say

[@lm2017]

Birds don't just change their behavior and migrate. This bird could easily go extinct like many others if people don't do something.

[@rahmanafandi1590]

this is bird form indonesia kalimantan this a rare bird and very safe people

[@Vierotchka]

One should find funds to recruit the poachers and offer them a decent salary to protect these helmeted hornbills from other poachers.

[@scottmontgomery4537]

And as ivory, tiger parts, bear gall bladder etc get rarer the price goes up. Must get the people that are buying this stuff. This is crazy.

[@mikelpogileal1749]

People are awesome

[@mincedfruits]

Why didn’t y’all have the group of poachers arrested?

[@joeevans2378]

Disappointing

[@pedrohack2869]

Nice

[@javilla-real3296]

They be talking/acting like "hunting a bird feels so proud whilst being sad because it's being extinct" Hypocrisy

[@rowmathhedajad1]

it must be stopped.

[@freemind1229]

Hornbills are thriving in my country and I will not tell you where, because we don't want the market to corrupt our locals plus our local won't listen because we value every living beings.

[@henryeliezer3418]

As a Malaysian myself, I feel truly sad as Borneo consists of 3 countries, Brunei, two states of Malaysia as well as Kalimantan which is part of Indonesia. The borders between the Indonesian and Malaysian side isn't kept all that strong and in result the whole island is affected. And I wish the people who carry out this illegal activites realised that not only is this source of income destructive to the enviroment, but it's also not a reliable source as once tge birds go extinct they will be jobless (which is bound to happen sooner). I hope they realised that the environment isn't ours to own, but a property of the generations to come that we are lending.

[@tico1283]

Goddammit we humans are the worst thing that could have ever happened to our mother nature. 😐😢😭😔😠😠😠

[@summerscott104]

How to be part of Nat Geo? I wanted to become a Photographer instead of Seafarer... Pls Reply Nat Geo is My favorite channel and i want to be part or being a member of Nat Geo

[@yipiee1894]

Its like a phoenix

[@kahfre7575]

Tagua nut look it up and grow it. Nothing has to die and it's exactly like ivory.

[@synapsexcracked877]

Wtf this dude He said “That’s only way to make money” Are you Crazyyy??

[@NEWNEW-bc9qk]

Sick art on a dead bird!

[@salahparking2717]

i so confuse where this place.borneo or indonesia.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

That's why we have to learn about Resource Based Economy and stop living with obsolete values such as money, individualism and ownership.

[@OSTemli]

That's our state Bird.

[@gloriouspink4563]

no market，no killing

[@m.s.l.7746]

I'm a poacher poacher... Can a accompany you on expedition?

[@anotherfragment629]

god save this piece of beauty.

[@vakavayaa]

wants to protecc, uses the feathers...

[@colleyrj]

Poachers are the worst kind of human.

[@oohsam]

This is very upsetting. A story all too common these days.

[@SilverMustang920]

These protectors are REAL heroes! They must be awarded good money from Government and International Wildlife organizations, so more people join them!!

[@glenwayn5180]

the problem is there is no regulations and no one to inforce the law. hunting should be alowed and licences to hunt should be used as a conservation tool. by takeing the money to restore species and pay law inforcement to inforce the law and protect the protected speices. plus makeing more jobs. hunting is good and can benifit the wildlife and people. just the right tools need to be inplace.

[@sreejithrs4797]

can you send me the blood samples of the hornbills

[@DistractingTest]

And to think this ivory is the same chemical substance as fingernails. I bet you money some of those black market vendors are selling people powdered fingernails.

[@SamhainBe]

They need to poach the poachers!

[@prasujyagogoi5656]

If they can make a film with poachers then they can stop poaching too.

[@sulaimaanahmad]

this video just angers me! 😒

[@omggiiirl2077]

When is enough, enough? How many more have to die out for people to learn? We've already lost so many species, and now were going after more? With all the technology we have, why can't we develops something as an alternative. This is just getting stupid now.

[@cheesegromit9423]

long live the helmeted hornbill and long live the dyak people !

[@BK-sx5ps]

So sad.

[@rdccs5122]

One day you will hear the lonely call of a male hornbill and there will be no answer. Shortly after , there will be no calls, just silence...

[@wahyuadi3009]

Sub indo?

[@alfievanveen5206]

Solution: take the helmets that have been confiscated from poachers, lace them with cyanide and put them back into the black market, and make a press release saying you’ve done this, people will think it’s too risky to use the animal products and there will be no more demand

[@tongkatali7643]

Their numbers is going down thanks to palm oil as well.

[@mariososa4106]

Dan suku dayak sangat menghormati burung tersebut.

[@gentalboy4661]

Human destroy everything.

[@Personnenenparle]

people should poach poachers hands

[@emeljalungla5142]

Dulu tahun 2015 masi banyak di kaltara sekarang suda hilang mungkin suda punah. Akibat keserakahan manusia. Sangat disayangkan. Saya salut sama pemerintahan malesia bisa tegas dalam melestarikan alam nya. Hebat malesia.

[@shortyml669]

one more years this bird go risk extinction very sad

[@SinghCharan]

Such a beautiful creature with heavenly call. Why don't humans mind their own business instead of killing these innocent beings?

[@Vierotchka]

That is awful, terrible. :(

[@NatGeo]

This is truly saddening, Vierotchka. Due to poaching and this species' slow reproductive cycles, the helmeted hornbills are at most three generations away from extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

[@FSEVENMAN]

I want to open a tour company and charge wealthy folks to go poacher hunting....

[@duilodo1761]

I have this animals

[@SAMPINJ]

Hoho from Pokemon

[@bbqbob96]

make poaching, possession of this a death sentence.