The Southern Ground Hornbill is a large, rare, and endangered bird from Africa. Specifically, in Matobo, Zimbabwe, they continue to thrive.
The Ndebele and Kalanga, two minority ethnic groups living in Matobo, believe that the Southern Ground Hornbill is an embodiment of thunder and rain. Whenever they hear its deep, thunderous calls echoing for miles, they anticipate that rain will soon follow.
Revered as a Deity
The Southern Ground Hornbill, a rare endemic bird of Africa.
The scientific name of the Southern Ground Hornbill is Bucorvus leadbeateri, belonging to the Bucorvidae family of ground-feeding hornbills, which are vertebrates endemic to Africa. They are large birds, measuring between 90 to 120 cm in length and weighing between 2.2 to 6.2 kg. This species also has a striking appearance, with glossy black feathers, a long, sturdy beak, and a vivid red wattle.
The Ndebele and Kalanga refer to the Southern Ground Hornbill as Amahundundu. This name mimics their thunder-like calls that can be heard up to 5 km away.
The Ndebele and Kalanga believe that the Southern Ground Hornbill is a rain-calling bird. Every year, at the end of the dry season (around October), they eagerly await the Amahundundu’s call. If the bird calls consistently for a few days, dark clouds will soon gather, and rain will follow shortly after.
The Ndebele and Kalanga hold the Amahundundu in high regard, referring to it as the “bird of thunder” or “bird of rain.” They show immense respect for this bird, organizing formal funerals akin to those held for community members when one dies.
“Killing an Amahundundu is to anger the spirits and will come at a great cost. There will be no rain, and the perpetrator will go mad, banished from the village for life,” the elders of the Ndebele and Kalanga teach their descendants.
Living in Harmony
Children in Matobo are essential observers of the Southern Ground Hornbill.
On a dusty late dry season afternoon, Sofaya Ndlovu, a resident of Matobo, relaxes outside his home. About 50 meters away, on a neatly cleared patch of land, a Southern Ground Hornbill stands curiously. After a few moments of hesitation, it lifts its foot and approaches a cricket nest, beginning to dig with its strong, blunt claws.
Before long, the bird captures its prey hiding underground. It hurriedly flies to where its chicks are waiting to feed them.
“I hear them every day,” Ndlovu boasts. In Matobo, most residents are farmers who rely on subsistence agriculture. Because they cherish the Southern Ground Hornbill, they allow them to roam freely.
The farmland of Matobo residents is adjacent to Matobo National Park. They often face disturbances from wildlife such as monkeys, squirrels, and rodents. To protect their crops, the Ndebele and Kalanga must drive these animals away. Coincidentally, this action inadvertently benefits the Southern Ground Hornbill.
Scientific observations indicate that the Southern Ground Hornbill is a slow-reproducing species. They do not pair up and lay eggs until they are 9 to 10 years old. Each nest contains 1 to 3 eggs, but typically only one chick survives. The incubation period lasts 40 to 45 days, and the chicks are cared for up to 2 years.
During the egg and chick stages, the Southern Ground Hornbill is vulnerable to being preyed upon by wildlife. Sensing the goodwill of the Matobo residents, these birds nest close to the village, laying eggs and raising their young safely.
In addition to avoiding predators, they gain another benefit: Abundant food. The gardens in Matobo attract many insects, rodents, and especially snakes, which are a favorite food for these birds. It can be said that the relationship between the people of Matobo and the Southern Ground Hornbill is symbiotic, with mutual benefits.
The “Nest Guardian”
Evans Mabiza, an ecologist and team leader of the Southern Ground Hornbill research group in Matobo.
In the wild, the Southern Ground Hornbill can only successfully reproduce every 6 to 9 years, but in Matobo, they can do so in 1 to 2 years. With a lifespan of up to 70 years, this rare bird species is increasing its population robustly.
“The residents of Matobo regard the Southern Ground Hornbill as one of their own,” says Evans Mabiza, a bird conservationist with 14 years of experience in Matobo. “In the past, many African cultures felt the same way, but now, the belief in the thunderbird has eroded.”
Biologist Lucy Kemp states, “We must protect the Southern Ground Hornbill at all costs. This effort is not only for ecology but also to preserve culture.”
In both Matobo and many other regions of Africa, the Southern Ground Hornbill exists in countless songs, stories, and folklore. “Losing the Southern Ground Hornbill is losing our heart and soul,” Kemp emphasizes.
Since 2007, Zimbabwe has officially launched a research and protection project for the Southern Ground Hornbill. Matobo has become a key location where Mabiza’s team conducts field research. Initially, they were avoided by the Ndebele and Kalanga, who suspected ulterior motives.
Now, the residents of Matobo cherish and cooperate with Mabiza’s team. From children to the elderly, they enthusiastically report their observations, facilitating Mabiza in establishing accurate records.
“Amahundundu is the messenger of the spirits,” shares Moyo, a resident of Matobo. Currently, 17 people (including Moyo) are acting as “guardians of the Amahundundu nests.” They monitor from the moment the male bird calls for a mate, paying close attention to protecting the eggs and chicks.
Each month, Mabiza visits Matobo several times. Thanks to the residents, especially the children, he collects valuable observational data on the bird population. “I feel that Matobo will become the research center for the Southern Ground Hornbill for all of Africa,” Mabiza proudly states.
He hopes that the real-life story here will inspire others, helping them recognize the ecological and cultural significance of protecting an endangered species.
