Amur Falcons return to NE States; contrast in reponses of inhabitants...

MOKOKCHUNG/ ITANGAR/ IMPHAL: Amur Falcons, the migratory birds from Siberia, roost annually in Nagaland's Wokha and Longleng districts. They were sighted after a gap of many years in Mokokchung.

However, many people started gunning them down for their meat. Air guns and catapults were being used to shoot them down. The people were trying to shoot down these migratory birds indiscriminately.

Dr Sentitula, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Mokokchung said that the Department will issue a notice to urge people to protect these birds. Hunting is banned in the district, she said. (Agencies)

PANGTI VILLAGERS

CONSERVE THE SPECIES: However, there are exceptions as well. Till a few years back, Pangti village in Wokha district of Nagaland was a killing field for Amur falcons that descend every October to roost at the Doyang hydroelectric power project reservoir and surrounding jhum cultivation lands. Today, Pangti has turned into a major tourists' attraction because it is in this nondescript village that one of the greatest of conservation stories has unfolded in recent times.

BIRD SPECIES SIGHTED IN LONGDING: Amur Falcons have been spotted in large number at a village in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh bringing smiles to the villagers, reported our correspondent.

A flock of the birds preying on termites was spotted by Longding Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ankit Kumar and his team in Niausa village of the district on Monday, which prompted the forest official to initiate measures for its conservation, official sources from Longding informed here on Tuesday.

"The Forest department will be taking up measures in coordination with the local community for conservation of the Amur falcons and to ensure that they return to Arunachal every year when they cross India," the sources said.

Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family, which migrates in large flocks from Siberia to Africa, crossing India.

These migratory birds (from Siberia) are protected under the 'Wild Life Protection Act-1972'.

AMUR FALCON NAMED 'MANIPUR' KILLED BY HUNTERS IN 2018: Four days after its release by scientists, a migratory Amur falcon named 'Manipur' was hunted down by miscreants at Kebuching, which lies between the districts of Tamenglong and Noney, in Manipur, report agencies.

The Amur falcon, tagged with a satellite transmitter, was one of the two released on November 5, 2018, by a group of scientists working on the conservation project of the winged guests. The scientists are trying to understand the movement of the birds during their migratory stop-over in Tamenglong.

Terming the incident 'very unfortunate', Forest Minister of Manipur Thounaojam Shyamkumar, said that the department will not spare those involved in the incident. He informed that the satellite instrument was handed over to the Forest Department in Noney.

Stating that stricter rules and intense awareness campaigns are needed at this moment, he said the cancellation of gun licenses (air guns) will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting soon.

The Minister appealed to the people of the State and other departments to come forward to help save the migratory bird Amur falcon and also the local wildlife, which is important for the existence of the whole eco-system.

On November 4, a team of officials led by Dr Suresh Kumar of Wildlife Institute of India, Forest Department Tamenglong including DFO Arun RS and Peter, Raptor Biologists from Hungary captured five Amur falcons using canopy mist-nets at a community forests area of Chiuluan village along the Barak river in Tamenglong district.

Following an assessment of the body and feather condition, two fittest birds out of five were attached with GPS satellite tags and released in the morning of November 5. The male bird was named 'Manipur' while the female was named as 'Tamenglong'.

The satellite tagging of the two Amur falcons were informed to the villagers of Tamenglong on the day of the 'Fourth Amur Falcon Festival' held at the district. On November 8, Tamenglong District Administration had also issued an order strictly prohibiting the use of air guns along Irang river near Gwangram, Puching, Rangkhung and Taobam villages.

THE SIBERIAN GUESTS ALSO VISIT UMRANGSO (ASSAM): Umrangso is an industrial town in Dima Hasao district. The birds stop here for a few days in the month of October and November every year. (Agencies)

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