Ahead of proposed plan of radio-tagging of Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) for scientific studies, Manipur Forest department in collaboration with local club and villagers is organizing awareness campaign for protecting the winged guests.
One such awareness campaign was held at Khangchiulon village in Manipur’s Tamenglong recently, according to forest officials attending the event.
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The programme was organized by Rainforest Club Tamenglong (RFC), a non-profit organization formed by a group of volunteers who actively engage themselves in various social activities and campaigns relating to conservation of environment and wildlife in the district.
The awareness camp was held under the aegis of Tamenglong Forest Division.
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Also read: Manipur: Amur falcons begin arriving at Tamenglong
Scientist Dr Suresh Kumar of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, Kh Hitler Range Forest Officer, Tamenglong, chairman B G Thuanku of Khangchiulon village, president Gaisui of RCF led members, village authority members, researchers attended the programme.
WII team have been camping in Tamenglong district since the last four days to radio tagged five Amur falcons once the birds begins to roost in the western district of Manipur as part of their conservation strategies in collaboration with the locals and forest officials.
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Last year two falcons were radio-tagged.
Many resource persons deliberated about the benefit of Amur falcon as bio-pest controller adding that Amur falcon is not a species of one country.
It migrated every year from its breeding ground in China by travelling 22,000 km covering Russia, Mongolia, China, Myanmar, Somalia and other South African countries.
Also read: WII scientists to tag five Amur falcons in Manipur next month
The north-eastern states of Nagaland and Manipur become an internationally important stop-over site for at least a million Amur Falcons annually.
After all India is signatory of Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) pledging to protect all migratory birds.
In March 2016, India had signed the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU) raising the number of signatories to 56,according to reports.
During Monday’s awareness programme, some of the villagers requested the authority to support their livelihood.
They also demanded banning of sale of air guns and its bullets first complete protection falcons from air guns.
Earlier the village authority had banned air guns in their village for protection of Amur falcons.
The meeting discussed about setting aside some forested area for Amur falcon conservation reserve as well.