Hornbills are highly regarded in Indonesia’s culture. Hornbill reliefs recorded in Prambanan Temple provides evidence of this.

In Kalimantan, the Dayak indigenous people believe that hornbills symbolize purity and strength. They often communicate with their ancestors through hornbills. The Dayaks also believe that natural spirits protecting the island of Borneo often take the form of giant hornbills, that the people often call, the Bird Commander.

A number of provinces in Indonesia adopt hornbills as symbols of their provincial pride. West Kalimantan selected the Helmeted hornbill, while South Sulawesi adopted the Knobbed hornbill as its mascot.