Chiulon reaches Somalia

IMPHAL, Apr 4: Chiulon, the satellite radio transmitter tagged Amur Falcon has reached Somalia border, informed an official of Wildlife Institute of India today.
Amur Falcon, is a small raptor of the Falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to Southern Africa during winter.
Chiulon reached Somalia border alongwith Longleng, the bird fitted with satellite radio transmitter from Nagaland last year, said Wildlife Institute of India, scientist, Dr Sureshkumar.
Chiulon left South Africa at the end of last month. It will be crossing Arabian sea to reach India, Dr Sureshkumar said adding that the bird will be crossing Manipur in mid April.
Two other satellite radio tagged Amur Falcons- Irang and Barak have left Africa and are migrating towards India, he said. Irang had spent winter at Zimbabwe's Kariba lake and Barak had stayed at Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Dr Sureshkumar said adding the satellite radio transmitter fitted with Barak is different from other transmitters. There has been no signal from other two satellite radio tagged Amur Falcons- Puching and Phalong. However, Wildlife Institute of India received a brief signal from Phalong on March 13 from South Africa, he said.