As the Tamenglong district in Manipur prepares for the annual arrival of the Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), the district administration has swiftly enacted a ban on hunting, capturing, and selling these migratory birds, locally referred to as ‘Kahuaipuina’.
The decision, effective immediately, aims to protect the falcons during their crucial stopover.
Every October, thousands of Amur falcons migrate to Manipur from their breeding grounds in Northern China, Eastern Mongolia, and far East Russia.
They typically roost in the region until late November before continuing their journey to wintering grounds in South Africa.
In an official order, the District Magistrate instructed local owners of air guns to surrender their hunting equipment to village authorities.
“Poaching and destruction of wildlife, including the Amur falcon, for food or any other purpose is a punishable offence under sections 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” the order stated.
Highlighting the significance of this period in the life cycle of the Amur falcon, the District Magistrate specified that all air guns should remain secured until the last flock has left or until November 30.
A report on the collection of air guns must be submitted by September 30. The DM warned that violators of these prohibitory measures would face legal consequences.
Tamenglong Divisional Forest Officer Kh Hitler noted that the state initiated a conservation programme in 2016, which included tagging two Amur falcons with radio transmitters to track their migration routes.
In addition to regular patrolling and awareness initiatives, the district hosts an annual ‘Amur Falcon Festival’ to celebrate the species.
Plans are underway to tag two additional birds to enhance the understanding of their migration patterns and the environmental conditions they encounter along their journey.
Interestingly, a male Amur falcon, named Chiulon after a village in Manipur, has completed an impressive journey to Africa after crossing the Arabian Sea.
The falcon spent a night in Tripura before embarking on a non-stop flight to Ethiopia, traversing the Goa-Karnataka border along the way.
Chiulon was radio-tagged by the Wildlife Institute of India as part of a project aimed at studying the routes of long-distance migratory birds.
These raptors play a vital role in the local ecosystem, and their presence is crucial for maintaining ecological balance.
Amur falcons are protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which encompasses various bird species, including barbets, barn owls, and ducks.
This act serves as a key framework for conserving wildlife and their habitats, establishing protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
The radio-tagging programme in Tamenglong has been conducted in two phases, first in 2018 and again in 2019, to better understand these long-distance migratory birds and their environmental patterns.
Notably, India is a signatory to international agreements concerning the conservation of migratory birds of prey.
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