In search of one of the rarest birds: The struggle to save the Sulu hornbill

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – The forest of Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, is alive with the hum of cicadas and the rustle of leaves in the tropical breeze. But among these sounds of life lies a haunting silence, a void left by the dwindling calls of one of the rarest birds on Earth.

For bird photographer Raymond Dan, the journey to capture another image of the elusive creature, locally known as tawsi, began with a leap of faith. Armed with his camera and guided by a team of conservationists, Dan spent three days exploring the wild.