Imphal: The arrival and roosting of Amur falcons — the world’s longest-travelling migratory birds — have increased in Manipur’s Tamenglong district over the past few days.
As part of their seasonal migration from Siberia, Amur falcons began arriving at Chiuluan village in Tamenglong on October 7.
Joel Gangmei, the Range Forest Officer of Tamenglong district, said the migratory Amur falcons, on their journey to the southern hemisphere — particularly South Africa — have been roosting and feeding in the villages of Chiuluan, Puching, Guangram, Bhalok, and nearby areas of Tamenglong district since October 7.
Two Amur falcons — Chiuluan2 and Guangram — were fitted with satellite transmitters under a WII-led project last year to track their migratory routes.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department, in collaboration with local villagers, has implemented several measures to protect the migratory birds.
Tamenglong Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kharibam Hitler also visited Chiuluan to assess the ongoing conservation efforts at the site.
Hitler said that more and more Amur Falcons, locally known as Akhuaipuina or Tamuanpui, are arriving at Chiuluan and adjoining areas.
However, the State Forest Department had feared that the number of Amur falcons roosting in Manipur might be lower this year compared to previous years due to climate change and disturbances to their habitat.
“We are concerned that the number of Amur falcons roosting in Manipur may be lower this year. Climate change and disturbances to their habitat could be key factors behind this decline, although it has not been scientifically confirmed,” he said.
With 10 village volunteers, the department has taken up several measures to protect the birds during their roosting period at Chiuluan, Hitler added.
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The officer said that the Amur falcons, which start their annual 20,000-kilometer journey from Siberia, China, and Russia to the southern hemisphere, are likely to leave Manipur for South Africa via Central India and the Arabian Sea from November 25.
Notably, Amur Falcon is a species protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However, after the amendment of the Act in 2022, the same species has been listed under Schedule I.
