Fun Toucan Facts and How You Can Save Them

Toucans are best know for being the mascot of Fruit Loops, but there is so much more to these wonderful birds. For starters, there are 42 species of toucans! That's a lot of different toucans!




Toucan's bills are more than half the length of their bodies but are actually quite light. They're made of keratin, the same material your finger nails are made out of. New research shows that their large beaks may actually help them cool off, just like sweating helps us cool off. Wouldn't you rather have a cool beak than sweaty armpits to help cool you off? Source: BBC News Hot Secret Behind Toucan's Bill



The toucan also has an unusual tongue, it is similar to a feather which it uses to catch food, then flick down its throat.



Perhaps what is most interesting about the toucan is that they're poor fliers and usually hop everywhere they go rather than fly. Who knew that tropical birds living in the rain forest could be poor fliers? Source: Animal Bytes: Toco Toucan. Listen to a toucan!



Why Toucans Need Our Help
Toucans are close to being a threatened species, with one species listed as endangered. Habitat loss due to logging and agriculture are threatening them as toucans require an undisturbed forest. Toucans do not like to fly in open spaces so roads and clearing are also threatening this delicate species. Source: Toucans: Ramphastidae - Conservation Status. Toucans are also victims of the pet trade since they are so colourful.



Help Save Toucans

• Never get a toucan for a pet
• Sign the Save Amazon Petition (protected rain forests = safe home for toucans)
• Volunteer in a rain forest with Volunteer South America
• Join the Toucan Awareness cause on Facebook
• See the tips you can do at home at Save the Rain forest
• Reduce your consumption of beef (so that rainforests won't be cut down for cattle)
• See tips you can do at home at Tropical Rain forest Coalition

Toco Toucan photo courtesy of: Andras Jancsik