Amur Falcon

29 Oct 2024 13:11:05 pm

Tags : Amur Falcon

Topic: Biodiversity

Why in the news?

The Manipur Forest Department will carry out a head count of Amur falcons, the world’s longest travelling raptors, in Tamenglong district.
The forest is all set to hold a series of programmes to spread awareness among the villages to protect the winged guests.
The Amur falcons, locally known as Akhuaipuina, usually arrive in Manipur in thousands, mostly in Tamenglong in mid-October from their breeding grounds in South Eastern Siberia and Northern China.

Source: Hindustan Times

About Amur Falcon:

It is a small raptor of the falcon family.
Locally known as Akhuipuina, the bird arrives mainly in Manipur and Nagaland.
It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China and migrates long distances in large flocks to winter in Southern and East Africa.
- The one-way journey via India is about 20,000 km long and the birds do this twice a year.
Conservation efforts:
- It is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and included under its Schedule IV.
- Hunting of the birds or possessing its meat is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine upto 25,000 or with bonds.
- In 2018, the forest department started a conservation programme by radio-tagging the birds to study their migratory route.
- Its IUCN Red List status is Least Concern.
Its population is threatened by illegal trapping and killing during migration,habitat loss from agricultural practices and land reclamation.