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For Immediate Release
Contact: Kelly Lessard (952) 431-9217
Watch Max on Minnesota Bound from July 2006
Hornbill surpasses life expectancy by 16 years; One of the oldest of its species in captivity
Apple Valley, MINN – Max, a Greater Indian hornbill who has been at the Minnesota Zoo since 1977 before the Zoo first opened its doors, passed away on October 31. Estimated to be more than 42-years-old, Max was one of the oldest hornbills in captivity–surpassing the “average” life expectancy of the species by 16 years. He had been in failing health for the past year.
Max’s longtime keeper, Avian Supervisor Jimmy Pichner, has also been at the Minnesota Zoo since 1977. “I have worked with thousands of birds at the Zoo,” said Pichner. “Max was the only one that recognized me when I did not have a Zoo uniform on. He loved grapes and would move anywhere in the exhibit to get them. In his younger days, we would toss grapes into the air and he would fly and pick them out of the air. After getting his fill he would go over to his female companion, regurgitate the grapes, and feed them to her. That’s true love! He was so focused on me that he would exhibit the same behavior toward me–so when the pair was courting or nesting, I would have to stay away from the exhibit. Otherwise, he would ignore the female.”
A full necropsy report has not yet been completed.
Greater Indian hornbills are large birds, over three feet in length. Their plumage is boldly patterned in black, white and yellow. They sport a large bill on which a large, light weight casque is found. Males have a larger casque and red irises, while a female’s iris is white. They are found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Vietnam, southwest China, Bangladesh, Malaya and Sumatra. When they aren’t nesting, hornbills gather in flocks of 6-20 or more individuals. These flocks appear to be family related, including young from previous years. They eat fruit, berries, insects, and small animals.
The Minnesota Zoo is open 363 days a year and is just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 . The Minnesota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. Visit aza.org.
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