Scientist laud Naga communities’ offer of asylum to Amur falcons

Our Correspondent

Imphal, May 6 (EMN): Scientists studying the migratory routes of Amur falcon have lauded the efforts of communities under Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu in Nagaland for their commitment towards creating community conservation area and giving asylum to Amur falcon and other animals.

Amur falcon is one of the least known birds among the 69 falcon species known from India, according to experts.

The scientists have also acknowledged the measures taken by the government of Nagaland, particularly the wildlife wing of Nagaland forest department, to create awareness among the Naga people to ensure safe passage to the falcons.

In a report on radio-tagged Amur falcon ‘Longleng’—which has returned to India on May 2, on her way to her breeding area in northern china and eastern Mongolia—a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) scientist said: “The community has been giving their best effort towards the Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives; and this is a huge contribution to the global world (sic) in the area of protecting many endangered species.”

‘Longleng’ named after Nagaland’s district, was radio-tagged in October 2016. It arrived at Gadchiroli forest reserve in eastern Maharashtra covering around 4800 km after starting its return journey from Somalia on April 29, the report stated.

As per its previous migratory route, ‘Longleng’ fly down to southern Karnataka close to Bengaluru or Mysore and head back along the east coast to northeast India.

But interestingly, this time it flew straight across Maharashtra to southern Odisha—possibly waiting for cyclone Fani to pass. Longleng’s arrival in India now marks the sixth successful crossing of the Arabian Sea, it claimed.

The bird, which was radio-tagged to study the migration route of these long-distance migratory birds and environmental patterns to create more awareness among the local population, has reportedly reached the south-western part of Manipur on Sunday evening. The last location of the bird could not be established as there was no official confirmation till this report was filed.

The Amur falcons that spend their summers at their breeding grounds in northern China, migrate to their wintering grounds in South Africa, undertaking a yearly journey of about 20,000 km. In between, they stop in India’s northeastern states and leave the region in November after having enough food for their non-stop flight to Africa.

It may be mentioned that the move to satellite-tag Amur falcon was initiated by WII in collaboration with other experts in Nagaland in November 2013 to provide safe passage and to take up appropriate plans for its long-term conservation, particularly among the local communities in Nagaland besides understanding their behaviour and ecology.