Lesser number of Amur Falcons expected this year
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 1: The State Forest Department fears that the number of Amur Falcon roosting in Manipur may be lesser this year as compared to the previous years.
On their seasonal migration from Siberia, Amur Falcons started arriving at Chiuluan village, Tamenglong on October 7.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has taken up several measures along with the local villagers to protect the migratory bird.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Tamenglong Kharibam Hitler went to Chiuluan and made a spot assessment of the protective measures being taken up there.
Talking to reporters, the DFO said that more and more Amur Falcons, locally known as Akhuaipuina or Tamuanpui, are arriving at Chiuluan and adjoining areas.
“However, we are worried that the number of Amur Falcons roosting in Manipur may be lower this year”, Hitler said.
Climate change and disturbance to their habitat shall be the two main reasons for the decline of Amur Falcon number roosting in Manipur but this has not been scientifically proved, he said.
Earlier, Amur Falcons roosted and fed themselves at Bhalok village, Tameng-long but they stopped visi- ting Bhalok for the last three/four years.
Some Amur Falcons visit Puching and Guangram villages too but it is Chiuluan which has been attracting huge flocks of the migratory bird every year, the DFO said.
Together with 10 village volunteers, the department has taken up several measures to protect Akhuaipuina during their roosting period at Chiuluan, Hitler said.
He said that the Amur Falcons would leave Manipur for South Africa through Central India and the Arabian Sea from November 25.
He went on to claim that the international community has started acknowledging the efforts of the Forest Department and local villagers towards protecting Amur Falcon which has been identified as a global species.
Amur Falcon is a species protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. After the amendment of the Act in 2022, the same species has been listed under Schedule I, the DFO said.
He then appealed to all the people not to catch, kill or trade the migratory bird, and also not to disturb their habitat.
Anyone found catching, killing or trading Amur Falcon is liable to be punished under the Wildlife Protection Act, he said.
He appealed to all the people to protect Amur Falcon, all other wildlife and nature, put Tamenglong on the global conservation map and make Tamenglong a pioneer district in the field of conservation. As a part of their study of the migratory bird, the Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India would tag three Amur Falcons with satellite transmitters.
Notably, the District Magistrate, Tamenglong issued a prohibitory order on October 14 directing all the people of villages, where Amur Falcons are expected, to deposit their air guns with their respective village authorities.
IMPHAL, Nov 1: The State Forest Department fears that the number of Amur Falcon roosting in Manipur may be lesser this year as compared to the previous years.
On their seasonal migration from Siberia, Amur Falcons started arriving at Chiuluan village, Tamenglong on October 7.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has taken up several measures along with the local villagers to protect the migratory bird.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Tamenglong Kharibam Hitler went to Chiuluan and made a spot assessment of the protective measures being taken up there.
Talking to reporters, the DFO said that more and more Amur Falcons, locally known as Akhuaipuina or Tamuanpui, are arriving at Chiuluan and adjoining areas.
“However, we are worried that the number of Amur Falcons roosting in Manipur may be lower this year”, Hitler said.
Climate change and disturbance to their habitat shall be the two main reasons for the decline of Amur Falcon number roosting in Manipur but this has not been scientifically proved, he said.
Earlier, Amur Falcons roosted and fed themselves at Bhalok village, Tameng-long but they stopped visi- ting Bhalok for the last three/four years.
Some Amur Falcons visit Puching and Guangram villages too but it is Chiuluan which has been attracting huge flocks of the migratory bird every year, the DFO said.
Together with 10 village volunteers, the department has taken up several measures to protect Akhuaipuina during their roosting period at Chiuluan, Hitler said.
He said that the Amur Falcons would leave Manipur for South Africa through Central India and the Arabian Sea from November 25.
He went on to claim that the international community has started acknowledging the efforts of the Forest Department and local villagers towards protecting Amur Falcon which has been identified as a global species.
Amur Falcon is a species protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. After the amendment of the Act in 2022, the same species has been listed under Schedule I, the DFO said.
He then appealed to all the people not to catch, kill or trade the migratory bird, and also not to disturb their habitat.
Anyone found catching, killing or trading Amur Falcon is liable to be punished under the Wildlife Protection Act, he said.
He appealed to all the people to protect Amur Falcon, all other wildlife and nature, put Tamenglong on the global conservation map and make Tamenglong a pioneer district in the field of conservation. As a part of their study of the migratory bird, the Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India would tag three Amur Falcons with satellite transmitters.
Notably, the District Magistrate, Tamenglong issued a prohibitory order on October 14 directing all the people of villages, where Amur Falcons are expected, to deposit their air guns with their respective village authorities.