Imphal: The Noney district administration in Manipur has imposed a district-wide ban on hunting, capturing, killing and selling Amur falcons, locally known as “Akhuaipuina”, as the migratory birds arrive in the region for their annual winter stay.
In a prohibitory order issued on October 24, the District Magistrate directed residents to hand over their airguns to village authorities by November 10. The order also allows residents to retain the weapons until the birds leave the region, according to the directive.
The action followed a request from the Divisional Forest Officer, who raised concerns over illegal hunting that threatens the protected migratory species. Amur falcons are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides stringent legal protection.
Fifteen designated collection centres have been identified for receiving the airguns. These include locations in Longmai, Raengkhung, Awangkhul, Taobam and Khongsang, among other villages. Village authorities have been instructed to maintain records of the collected weapons and submit the final lists to the district administration by November 10.
To enforce the restrictions, the Superintendent of Police has been directed to deploy personnel for targeted checks of vehicles, roads and markets. Forest guards will also conduct daily surveillance at key roosting sites and report their findings to the Chief Conservator of Forests.
Violations of the prohibitory order could attract penalties under Sections 50 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Churches and local clubs have also been asked to support awareness campaigns to discourage hunting and encourage community participation in protecting the birds.
The enforcement drive coincides with the return of two satellite-tagged Amur falcons, Apapang and Alang, to Manipur on Thursday. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav confirmed their arrival on Friday, noting that the birds had completed a round-trip migration after being tagged by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in November 2025.
The pair reportedly travelled from their breeding grounds in northeastern China to Manipur in just 11 days, providing valuable information about the species’ migratory movements.
Manipur’s Amur falcon radio-tagging programme began in 2018 to study the birds’ flight routes. The initiative expanded in 2019 through a partnership between the WII and residents of Puching village, strengthening local involvement in monitoring the migratory population.
Forest officials said the seasonal influx had begun, with the first arrivals reported in small groups. Initial sightings were recorded in Guangram on October 11, according to Tamenglong Divisional Forest Officer Amit Kelar, who confirmed the early arrivals on Friday.
WII scientist Dr Suresh Kumar said the falcons are expected to spend the next two to three weeks feeding on termites in the mountainous areas of Tamenglong and Noney. The feeding period will help the birds build up the fat reserves needed for their onward migration.
According to Minister Yadav, the falcons will subsequently undertake a demanding journey towards Somalia, covering approximately 6,000 kilometres in a non-stop flight. Their route includes a high-risk crossing of around 3,000 kilometres over the Arabian Sea.
Yadav praised the community-led conservation efforts in the region, which serves as a crucial stopover along the birds’ approximately 20,000-kilometre migration corridor linking East Asia with southern and eastern Africa.
The district-wide restrictions, alongside community participation and scientific monitoring, are intended to protect the Amur falcons during their stay in Manipur and ensure their safe onward migration.