Amur Falcon: The Pride of Tamenglong

Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis), locally known as “Akhuaipuina”,is a long distance, trans-equatorial migratory bird from Eastern Russia, China, and Mongolia. To be more specific, Amur Falcon breeds in the Eastern Palearctic from Transbaikalia, Russia, and central Mongolia east to Ussuriland (south-eastern Russia) and south to the Qinling Mountain range in central China. It is one of the most talked-about birds in Tamenglong among the 69 different species of Falcon found in India.

Amur Falcon usually comes to India’s northeast particularly Tamenglong district of Manipur and Wokha district of Nagaland in the early or mid-October and spends 4-5 weeks before leaving for a long journey towards Southern Africa.After travelling a long distance from East Asia, the birds reached Northeast India lean and thin, but they became fat and healthy within a week or two after feeding themselves in this region. An Amur Falcon weighs about 160 grams and measures 25-30 cm in length. In an interaction with the Youths of Phalong village in 2018, the volunteers estimated that 4-6 birds make a Kilogram. Between the two sexes, males are slightly bigger than females.

Amur Falcon has been regarded as one of the most important birds in Tamenglong. The advent of these small raptors is also considered as the onset of winter, or autumn season, by the Zeliangrong people. When the Amur Falconarrived in Tamenglong in large numbers, the people took it as a sign for a good harvest. This is because since Amur Falcon feeds on termites, dragonflies, mice (rodents), and other insects like kharou, grasshoppers, etc., many of which can destroy standing crops, thereby helping the farmersin preventing crops from destruction.

The importance of Amur Falcon to the people is evident in the songs, poems, dance, etc. composed in honour of this special guest of the district. This shows that these migratory birds are not only the farmers’ best friends but also occupy an important place in the cultural life of the people. In fact, Amur Falcon Dance has become an integral part of the Annual Amur Falcon Festival in Tamenglong.

Each year, Amur Falcon flew to-and-fro from its breeding place in East Asia towards Southern and East African Coasts in hundreds and thousands for a distance of 22,000 km. On its way towards Southern Africa, the raptors used Northeast India as stop-over roosting sites. While some birds flew directly from Northeast India across the Indian Ocean, some are believed to have spent a few days in the Indian peninsula. The first Amur Falcon census in Tamenglong was conducted from 8–10 November 2023 in which it was found that around 1.41 lakh Amur Falcons roosted in the district.

After crossing the Indian Ocean, many of the birds stop at Somalia, and then move southward, some of them till the Horn of Africa. After spending winters in Southern Africa, they travel back to their original breeding place in East Asia, passing through the Northeast in April-May the next year.

The Amur Falcons usually do not make much sound when they arrive in October, but on their return from South Africa, they make lots of sound. On its way, some of the birds are said to have laid eggs and are sometimes left behind in Tamenglong. Amur Falcons are also said to be easier to capture as compared to other birds probably because people in their original habitat do not hunt them.

In the past, people used to kill Amur Falcons in thousands for consumption and also for sale providing a temporary livelihood to many. But with the intervention of both government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the killing of Amur Falcon has been put under control. As usually done in the past, the District Administration of Tamenglong on 18 September 2024 imposed a ban on hunting, catching, killing and selling of wildlife including Amur Falcon with immediate effect.

In Tamenglong, the Formation of Rainforest Club Tamenglong in 2014 has been a great turning point in the steps towards conservation of wildlife particularly Amur Falcon. Apart from Rainforest Club, the Wildlife Warden and the Western Forest Division, Tamenglong, are another agencies actively working for the preservation of wildlife. Recently, the Amur Falcon Club was also formed specifically for the conservation of Amur Falcon. The Forest Department had also proposed to the State Government to declare Tamenglong as Amur Falcon district. 

With the active participation of government as well as non-governmental agencies alike, Tamenglong have seen a different picture in the last few years. For instance, open selling of meat of wild animals has been totally banned in the markets of Tamenglong. In Phalong village, the main roosting site of the migratory bird in the district, many Amur  Falcon hunters have been converted into protectors of the birds. In an interview with wildlife activists, it is learnt that the government and NGOs have faced an uphill task in convincing the tribal people whose favourite pastime has been hunting. However, through continuous campaigns and awareness programs, they were able to convince the people to stop killing wild animals and instead  become protectors of the same.

As a result, the killing of Amur Falcon has been almost nil in the past few years. This doesn’t mean that the killing of wildlife has been stopped altogether. Because, the tribal people have the tradition of hunting and will not easily give-up unless they are given alternative arrangements. Yet, it is clear that with the  active participation of both government and NGOs, it is not impossible to stop them from hunting wildlife.

In this regard, the success story Amur Falcon protection in Tamenglong is not a mean achievement. It is also clear that, by providing proper awareness, and, at the same time, alternative means of livelihood, even the lifestyles of the tribals can be changed from being  hunters of wildlife to protectors of the same. Some of the steps worth considering are: infrastructure development in terms of construction of roads, tourist spots, etc. to attract tourists, animal husbandry including piggery, poultry, cattle rearing, apiary, etc., horticulture, floriculture, and such other activities.

To make the conservation of wildlife among the hill people a success, proper awareness campaignmust be taken up, and arrangement should also be made to provide alternative means of livelihood to those whose survival largely depends on the wilds. Unless alternative means are provided, total eradication of hunting of wildlife will remain a herculean task. However, such campaign should be carried out in such a way that the customs, cultures and the lifestyle of the hill people remains intact.

(Courtesy: Tamenglong College Annual Magaze 2024, pp.5-7)