Tamenglong, October 15: In a proactive conservation move, the Tamenglong district administration in Manipur has imposed a total ban on the killing, catching, and sale of Amur falcons during their seasonal roosting period. The directive, issued by District Magistrate Dr. L. Angshim Dangshawa, also prohibits the use of air guns within the district until the migratory birds depart.
The order, enforced under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, mandates all individuals possessing air guns to deposit them with village authorities until November 30 or until the last flock of Amur falcons leaves the area. Violators will face strict legal action under the wildlife protection law and other relevant regulations.
The decision follows a request from the Tamenglong Divisional Forest Division, which has been at the forefront of conservation efforts for the globally migrating species.
The Amur falcons (Falco amurensis)—locally known as Akhuaipuina in the Rongmei dialect—have already begun arriving at Guangram village in Tamenglong. Each year, these small raptors travel from southeastern Siberia and northern China to the Northeast region of India, particularly Tamenglong and Nagaland’s Wokha, before embarking on their non-stop transoceanic journey to Africa, covering nearly 22,000 km.
To further strengthen conservation research, the Forest Department, Manipur, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), plans to tag three additional Amur falcons with satellite transmitters this year. The radio-tagging initiative, launched in 2018, aims to study the birds’ migratory patterns and enhance protection measures for one of the world’s longest-travelling raptors.
