Nagaland: Amur falcon site at Pangti declared ‘silence zone’

Our Reporter Dimapur, Oct. 22 (EMN): The Amur falcon roosting site at Pangti village in Wokha district has been declared a temporary “silence zone” within a radius of three kilometres for the months of October and November. This is because high intensity sound has been proven to induce fear in wild animals and birds, which can force species to abandon their habitat in addition to interfering with their communications, thereby affecting their reproductive interactions and survival. Due to the largest congregation of Amur falcons that happen at Pangti village during the two months, Nagaland has also earned the title: ‘falcon capital of the world.’ According to a DIPR report, Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, Manazir Jeelani Samoon, has issued an order prohibiting activities that would be unsafe and detrimental to the protection of the Amur falcons. "The Amur falcons need a safe passage to continue their journey; activities that may cause disturbance during their migration season have been banned in and around the site as well as throughout the district," according to the report. Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Amur falcon conversationalist Bano Haralu shared that there were lots of activities the previous year because of the Amur falcon festival, which coincided with the migratory months. Haralu informed that fishing, angling and many other activities were organised not realising that it was disturbing the roosting site. According to her, the prohibition by the district administration is a ‘good measure’. She informed that the falcons have already arrived in large numbers at Pangti. Another issue that Haralu cited was the government’s decision to construct a 21-km road from Wokha to another village and declare it as a roosting site of the Amur falcons. This, she said, has led to protests against the decision from Pangti villagers as the only place where the falcons roost is at Pangti. If the sanction follows through, all visitations would be closed for visitors at the Pangti roosting site as a sign of protest, it was informed.