Amur Falcons: World's Longest-Flying Migratory Birds Start to Arrive in Manipur

TAMENGLONG: According to officials, Amur falcons, the longest-flying raptors in the world, have started to arrive in Tamenglong district of Manipur, after migrating a long distance.

Sources said, the Tamenglong district administration has decreed a ban on all air weapons and instructed people to deposit them at the offices of their respective village administrations in light of the advent of Amur falcons in Manipur.

Confirming the advent of the Amur falcon (Falcon amurensis) in the western district of the state, divisional forest officer (DFO) Amandeep of Tamenglong Forest Division stated, "With the arrival of the Amur falcons in the first week of October, the department has taken up regular checking and awareness programmes have been started besides organising joint patrolling in the district."

The DFO additionally stated that the deputy commissioner of Tamenglong district has additionally been asked to take essential steps to prevent the hunting of Amur falcons.

As part of ongoing conservation efforts, the forest authority is also preparing to host an Amur falcons festival next month, the official stated when reached by phone.

The Amur falcons' migration typically begins in many areas of north-eastern India, including the Tamenglong district, in the second week of October and is likely to roost until the end of November. Amur falcons are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and are listed in Schedule IV. 

Additionally, "hunting, trapping, killing, and selling of migrating birds (including the Amur falcon) by anybody in the district with immediate effect" was prohibited by the DC Senapati district in its decision on Friday.

Residents in Tamenglong town, 150 km west of Imphal, initially reported hearing an Amur falcon cry on October 13 of this year.

Locals later reported that on October 20, large groups of birds began to roost in the Chiuluan Barak district.

According to the sources, with the assistance of the state forest department, district administration, Rainforest Club, Tamenglong, and locals, a five-person Wildlife Institute of India team led by Dr. Suresh Kumar radio-tagged five Amur falcons, including two males, at Puching village and other Tamenglong areas in Manipur in 2019.

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