8/29/2003: Rhinocerous Hornbill
 

http://cellar.org/2003/rhinoceroshornbill.jpg

This is a rhinocerous hornbill. I include it here partly because it's wacky. I mean, look at the thing.

But also because it has an interesting story. Turns out there is a problem with the hornbills at the Nanning City Zoo in southern China.

Somehow -- how is not explained -- there have come to be twice as many girl hornbills as guy hornbills at this zoo. Because the species chooses to mate for life, that means half the girl hornbills are going horny, and just can't get any, and have no prospects, and are even considering going back to the bar scene.

Sounds like when men were first let into Wellesley.

One would think that anything that looked like that might have a tough time getting laid.

Almost looks like a red pepper balanced on her beak.

monogomous male, mated for life?....lemme see now...That IS A rare and wonderous bird.

Unless you aren't getting any.

Oh, I didn't know Wellesley had gone coed.

Anyway--the picture looks like the result of a particularly incompetent photoshop job.

Hey, hey....that's not nice.:p
I wonder, if the female half of a pair was removed, would the male mate again? After a period of mourning, of course.

Uh.

Why don't they just turn lesbian?

PUSSY

Welcome beaner. This zoo is in China. We'll have to ask Billy if that's allowed.;)

This is not uncommon at all. All kinds of birds are this way.

I doubt it. I want to say geese, but I can't recall for sure, or ducks perhaps, something people hunt, will never mate again if they lose their mate. I remember seeing something on PBS or what not about it a long time ago.

What commonly happens is that the mate gets shot during hunting season, and the mate lives the rest of its life alone.

I doubt these birds are widely hunted, though perhaps it's different in their native country.

[edit]
Something I find amusing about this story is its location. China, where common preception is that male children are more desired than females, and where this sort of thing happens with the human population also. At least that's the story we get over here in the states.
[/edit]

Quzah.

Sounds like what's happening here in down town Sydney.
Too many girls not enough guys. :(

Anyone up for a Sydney junket?

Leah:
Sounds like what's happening here in down town Sydney.
Too many girls not enough guys.



hey NBN, I'll get the plane fueled and ready! :thumb: you've been wanting to go on one of my flights, now here's your chance!:D

Do you mean guys or acceptable guys? Don't you work right in the middle of the Gay Mardi Gras area?
You could pass through here on your way back from England.:D