TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taipei Zoo announced that a female great hornbill, White Eyes, passed away on Saturday after experiencing loss of appetite and declining body weight for two weeks. 

A zoo veterinarian said the great hornbill suffered from anemia, high white blood cell count, and liver and gastrointestinal tract inflammation. The bird initially improved after treatment but later worsened with severe body cavity inflammation leading to death, per a press release.

White Eyes arrived at Taipei Zoo as part of a pair of great hornbills in an exchange program with Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo in 2001. The male partner was named Red Eyes based on his distinctive iris color.

Differing iris colors can help distinguish between the male and female great hornbills. The male is also larger in size and casque.

The great hornbills interacted well together and were often observed feeding each other. Upon arriving at the zoo, White Eyes laid eggs, but none succeeded through incubation.

Zookeepers are concerned about Red Eyes, as great hornbills live in pairs or groups. The loss of a lifelong mate cannot be underestimated, and veterinarians will pay special attention to the health of their remaining great hornbill.

Listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, the great hornbill can live up to 50 years in captivity. Its natural habitat extends from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia.