# 17-Year-Old in Thailand Helps Hornbills Find New Homes > It’s funny how a single moment outdoors can spark something big. For Yanin “Proud” Tangkaravakoon, a school trip to Khao Yai National Park started with nothing ![17-Year-Old in Thailand Helps Hornbills Find New Homes](/media/2026/10/Positivity---2026-10-30T115345-262-f8683829.webp) ## It’s funny how a single moment outdoors can spark something big. For Yanin “Proud” Tangkaravakoon, a school trip to Khao Yai National Park started with nothing more than a glimpse of a hornbill flying high above the trees. She watched that bird bring food to its mate and chick. Years later, that childhood spark turned into Homes for Hornbills—a conservation project making safe places for these remarkable birds to raise their young. At 17, Proud leads an initiative that builds artificial nests out of upcycled plastic waste. Hornbills struggle to find natural tree cavities—deforestation and habitat loss aren’t making it any easier. Her project helps fill that gap. They’ve already installed nests in southern Thailand, and local hornbill families are moving in. The results feel promising—birds are using them, and chicks are hatching. Advertisement ## How a Childhood Encounter Inspired Homes for Hornbills It all started in Grade 4. Proud remembers seeing the great hornbill on her school visit, and the image stuck. She later learned hornbills can’t build their own nests. They depend on holes in big old trees, and without those trees, they’re out of luck. As forests shrink and poachers threaten wildlife, hornbills keep losing safe spots to breed. Wanting to help, Proud began looking into artificial nests as a lifeline for these birds. ## Building Artificial Hornbill Nests From Recycled Plastic What makes her project stand out is the material—upcycled plastic bottles mixed with natural fibres. Instead of ordinary stuff, her team uses recycled PET bottles. Over 400 bottles go into each nest. She worked with conservationists and materials experts to make sure the cavities are just the right size, sturdy, well-ventilated, and safe for birds. The nests are tough enough to survive heat, rain, and sun for over a decade. Plus, turning trash into something useful is pretty satisfying—it’s science, creativity, and conservation all rolled into one. ## 20 Nests Installed on Yao Noi Island Building the nests was only a start. Hornbills are picky, so you never know if they’ll accept a new spot. Proud and her team placed 20 artificial nests on Yao Noi Island in southern Thailand, close to hornbill habitats, with help from locals. The early signs looked good. In the 2025 breeding season, 10 nests were occupied, leading to 14 chicks. The next year: 14 nests taken, 21 chicks fledged. Not bad. These numbers don’t just prove the nests work—they show the value of keeping an eye on the birds and working with local researchers. Advertisement ## Inspiring Young People to Protect Wildlife But Proud isn’t stopping there. She’s inviting other young people to get involved, too. Hornbills do more than look cool—they carry seeds, helping forests regrow. Protecting them means protecting entire ecosystems. Homes for Hornbills runs Young Hornbill Guardians, reaching out to students with nature activities and stories tied to local culture. Kids learn, explore, and join in. The project also welcomes community members because, honestly, conservation only works if everyone’s on board. Proud’s story is reaching wider audiences now. She made a documentary about her work and earned recognition from international groups—The Earth Prize, National Geographic’s Slingshot Challenge. ## What’s Next for Homes for Hornbills? What’s next? Proud and her team are planning to bring their nests to more parts of Thailand, including bigger homes for larger hornbill species. They’re keeping up with researchers and community partners. Artificial nests help. But protecting hornbills means protecting forests, stopping poaching, and bringing people together. ## A Young Conservationist Making a Difference Proud’s journey is proof that a passionate young person can rally others and come up with fresh ideas that really help wildlife. She saw a problem, learned from experts, tried new things, and got people involved. At 17, she’s already making a difference—and encouraging other young people to do the same. > If you’re wondering if you need to wait until you’re older to make a change, Proud’s story answers that pretty clearly. Notice a problem, take action, and you never know where that spark might lead. Explore Related Topics Take the Positivity Quiz More in Good News Share this article ### Stay Inspired Get a daily dose of positivity delivered to your inbox. ### Discover More on Positivity What Is Positivity? 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