Imphal: Amur falcons, the world’s longest-traveling birds, have embarked on their annual migration from Siberia, China, and Russia to the Somalia-Kenya border in Africa.
A significant stopover for these magnificent creatures is India’s northeastern states of Manipur and Nagaland.
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Recently, one of two satellite-tagged Amur falcons from Manipur’s Tamenglong district reached the Somalia-Kenya border, a remarkable achievement for wildlife conservation and migratory bird studies.
Dr. R Suresh Kumar, a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), tagged two Amur Falcons, named Guangram (female) and Chiuluan 2 (male), with satellites on November 8, 2024, in Tamenglong. While Chiuluan 2 successfully crossed the Arabian Sea and reached Africa, Guangram remains in the Tamenglong district.
In collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the satellite tagging of Guangram and Chiuluan 2 highlights the ongoing efforts to study and protect these migratory birds.
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Since 2015, Tamenglong has emerged as a vital sanctuary for Amur Falcons. The satellite tagging of 5-6 birds has placed the region on the global wildlife conservation map, inspiring the local community to strive for greater independence and self-reliance in conservation efforts.
In addition to satellite tagging, nine other Amur falcons were ringed with BNHS rings bearing identification numbers C58352 to C58362 as part of this broader initiative.