Beauty and the Hornbills

Beauty and the Hornbills 
Dr Abe V Rotor 

 Beauty and the Hornbills, detail of a wall mural by the author.  Miss Riza Fenis poses with a pair of hornbills painted on a wall at  the Living with Nature Center, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, 2019.

Likened to The Beauty and the Beast,

 a  living story in our midst;

 a ghost of our folly like the Genie  

 tamed no less by beauty; 

But, could it be man the real enemy?  
ask the endangered specie(s).

The hornbills (Bucerotidae) are a family of bird found in the Philippines, and other parts of tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly colored and sometimes has a casque (helmet) on the upper mandible. Locally known as kalaw this bird is classified under the list of threatened species as forests reserves continue to dwindle due to logging and kaingin (swiden farming).