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Hornbills’ surprise visit causes staff at oil and gas firm to go gaga

MIRI: Jimmy and Juliet, the famous pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills at Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR), paid a courtesy call on an oil and gas company in Piasau yesterday, causing the staff to go gaga over the unusual affair.

The loving couple landed barely a metre away on the air conditioner compressor of the office of the boss of Coral Alliance at about 8am, and remained perched there for a few minutes to the delight and amazement of the staff.

Hornbill is the state emblem of Sarawak and it was a sight to behold to see such a rare occasion.

“Actually the hornbills just flew to my boss’ office window and we managed to capture them on video. They flew off after a few minutes. I was just taking the video and did not take any selfie,” said Liew Huey Jen, an executive of the company.

The Borneo Post came across the video on Facebook at noon yesterday which was shared by Liew with her friends.

PNR, according to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), has a population of 24 hornbills, including the latest addition of two offspring to the family of Jimmy and Juliet.

The first written record of the species at PNR dates back to 2005, prompting calls for Piasau Camp to be turned into a forest reserve.

It was gazetted in 2013, and apart from being a notable breeding habitat for the Oriental Pied Hornbill it is also rich in biodiversity and home to a variety of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and other animals.

There are 79 species of mature trees and plants there. It was officially declared open on Sept 11, 2016 by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who approved the nature reserve while he was Chief Minister.

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