Forestry officers said the bird was healthy at the time it was received, with no signs of injury.

After completing the required procedures, the Tay Ninh Forest Protection Department coordinated the transfer of the great hornbill to the cultivation, research and medicinal processing centre in Dong Thap Province on December 16 for continued care and conservation.

A representative of the centre said that, in addition to the hornbill, it had recently received from the Tay Ninh Forest Protection Department a freshwater crocodile listed in group IB and a green iguana included in Appendix II of the Cites convention on international trade in endangered wild fauna and flora.

The centre said it would monitor and care for the animals and apply appropriate conservation measures to ensure their best possible development.

The great hornbill, scientific name Buceros bicornis, is listed as near threatened on the IUCN red list. Its numbers in the wild have declined mainly due to illegal hunting, particularly for its large casque, which is often targeted by wildlife traffickers.

In Vietnam, the great hornbill is classified in group IB, covering endangered, precious and rare species under strict protection, with all forms of illegal hunting, keeping and trading prohibited.