Bannerman’s Turaco

October 4, 2022

Bannerman’s Turaco is at the brink of extinction.

Key facts

The population of the bird species Bannerman’s Turaco is deteriorating because of habitat loss and the ancient hunting tradition for obtaining these birds’ feathers.
This bird species is categorized as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
There are an estimated 1,500 of these birds in Kilum-Ijim Mountain Forest, situated in northwest part of Cameroon.
The forests are currently being cleared for agricultural purposes and the settlement of increasing human population.
The destruction of forests is exacerbated by the untenable bee harvesting methods, slash and burn farming, logging and excessive grazing of animals.
The rapid destruction of this forest affects the survival Bannerman’s Turaco as these birds feed from a unique variety of wild fruits from a particular tree species.
Their breeding is also jeopardised because of the depleting green cover.
These birds are very shy and are highly sensitive to the presence of humans in their habitats.

About Bannerman’s Turaco

Bannerman’s Turaco is known as Fen in Oku language, a native language in Cameroon. It is named in honour of the British ornithologist David Armitage Bannerman. It is closely related to the red-crested turaco and the white-crested turaco. Fen diverged from them in the late Pliocene era. The species is endemic in the Bamenda Highland Forest region, with Kilum-Ijim Mountain Forest hosting its largest population. The red and crimson feathers of these birds have significant cultural importance in Cameroon. In the ancient times, anyone capturing a lion or other ferocious animals and bringing them to the palace will be awarded with a red feather from this bird. In the present era, the red feathers are given in recognition of those making important contributions to the development of the society.

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