Dandeli : The annual two-day Hornbill Festival will commence in Dandeli from February 16. The event aims to boost eco-tourism at Dandeli and Joida regions. It will be inaugurated by forest minister Satish Jarkiholi and revenue minister R V Deshpande at Timber Depot in Dandeli.

The festival is being organised from the last two years to boost tourism in the biodiversity rich area. The forest and tourism departments, district administration and various organisations will jointly organise the festival.

Dandeli is also home to four species of hornbills, including the largest in India — the Great Pied hornbill. Its the only forest where the largest — Great Pied, and the smallest variety of hornbill — Malabar grey hornbill, are found in the same place.

When B S Yeddyurappa was the CM, 100 sq km area along Kali River between Dandeli and Ganeshgudi has been declared as Hornbill Reserve, one of its kind in the entire world where hornbills exist. There are 54 species of hornbills recorded in the world and India has nine species. Karnataka has four of them.

The experts point out that over the last few years, the population of hornbills has increased, but the dependent trees are diminishing in some parts of the forest.

“The number of hornbills are increasing, but we need to ensure that the trees these birds depend on, are saved. The nesting sites of these birds must be protected at any cost. As the tourism is increasing in and around Dandeli, it’s important that these birds continue to get an undisturbed habitat in the future,” said a bird expert from Dandeli.