Hope of the Hornbill

As the sun was setting on my long walk in the woods

I sat down at a cozy shelter near a community garden

A secluded spot near the allotment plots

Pausing to admire the bountiful papayas ripening and the work of the elderly gardeners

After a few minutes of rest, I got up to continue walking

When a magnificent hornbill swooped in

With an uncannily loud sound as it flapped its wings

A flash of orange and a swiftly cut piece of papaya in its beak

The hornbill looked at me curiously with its long, beautiful eyelashes

Then landing on the shelter I sat on moments before

Making a grand appearance to nod a goodbye

These species were brought back from extinction in Singapore

Thanks to the work of dedicated conservationists and the urban adaptability of this species

To me, they are a symbol of hope, resilience and commitment

Caring for their monogamous partners even when they have sealed apart during nesting

Keep in your heart the hope of the hornbill, and stay committed to your purpose

Practice everyday ubuntu*

As Martin Luther King Jr once said,

“We must accept finite disappointment but not lose infinite hope”

Pictured on the right is the male (left) feeding the female berries. The female Oriental Pied Hornbill is sealed in the nest for around 90 days (to protect her young from prey). During this period, the female, followed by the chicks when they hatch, are completely dependent on the male for food.

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*ubuntu: ubuntu has its roots in African philosophy encapsulating the idea that a person’s humanity is bound up with the humanity of others. Quoting from the book “Everyday Ubuntu” by Mungi Ngomane – “by embracing ubuntu, we live in hope of overcoming division, and become stronger together in a world where the wise build bridges, not walls”. See Lesson 7: Choose Hope over Optimism for more on this topic.