138 helmeted hornbill skulls seized in Guangdong

The China Coast Guard recently seized 138 helmeted hornbill skulls that had been smuggled into Guangdong province. The critically endangered helmeted hornbill lives in rainforests around East Asia. The species is listed on the CITES Appendix 1, and its trade is strictly forbidden. Nevertheless, as material for artwork, helmeted hornbill skulls are worth even more than ivory. A piece of art made from helmeted hornbill skull sells for tens of thousands of RMB, and these high profits frequently drive smugglers to attempt the transportation of the skulls into China.