The destruction of the tropical rain forests has deprived the hornbill of its natural breeding grounds. The stocks of these predominantly Asian birds, with a striking helmet or horn-shaped upper beak, had dropped considerably by the mid-1990s. In cooperation with the Hornbill Foundation, SWAROVSKI OPTIK provided artificial nesting aids for these cave breeders from 2001 onwards. The aim was to stabilise over the medium terms the wild stocks of these magnificent horned birds within Thailand and also to play a part in preserving the tropical rain forests. In spring 2006 there was a first breeding success with a pair of Great Hornbills (Buceros bicornis) - at the same time this was the first successful breeding attempt of Hornbills in an artificial nest.