DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (MExN): “Longleng,” one of the five satellite-tagged Amur Falcons released during the intervening months of October and November 2016 from different locations of Nagaland completed its one cycle journey and has safely passed the region as it proceeds towards Siberia, its breeding location.
In a joint project, the five satellite-tagged Amur Falcons namely Longleng, Phom, Enium, Hakhizhe and Intanki were released from Yaongyimchen roosting site (Longleng District), Pangti Roosting site (Wokha district), Intanki National Park roosting site (Peren District) and Hakhizhe roosting site (Dimapur District) during October and November 2016.
This project is a collaborative initiative of the Wildlife Institute of India and Nagaland State Forest Department along with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, CMS Raptors MoU, and scientists from BirdLife Hungary and Hungarian Museum of Natural History.
‘Longleng’ and ‘Phom’ were satellite-tagged and released from Yaongyimchen Community Bio-Diversity Conservation Area under Longleng district on November 29, 2016.
This was informed during a consultation meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner Longleng, Y. Denngan Avennoho Phom on community participation towards bio-diversity initiatives with special reference to protection of Amur Falcons on May 15, 2017 at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall with village level leaders represented from surrounding Longleng town.
The consultation resolved to create continued awareness all over Longleng District to safeguard Amur Falcons as it passes thorough Longleng to Siberia and will return in October-November. On May 14, 2017, the Yaongyimchen Community observed a thanksgiving prayer for the safe return of ‘Longleng’ which left its Community Bio-Diversity Conservation Area in November 2016.
The Consultation was also attended by SDPO Longleng Chuba who gave information on the wildlife act and the penalty against the defaulters, Temjensangla, Associate Professor Fazl Ali College, Research Scholar and Rachel, another Research scholar from Chennai.
In a separate press statement, Chief Wildlife Warden, Staya Prakash Tripathi providing a status of the movement of the five birds also informed that ‘Longleng’ had already reached Mizoram on May 13, 2017. ‘Phom’ reached Somalia on November 24, 2016 and had remained since then at unknown roosting site North of Mogadishu. It had been in Ethopia since its lost location was received. The bird is likely to depart from there on its return migration in the next few days.
‘Eninum’ reached at the shores of Somalia in the early morning of November 24, 2016 after a nonstop flight from Nagaland. ‘Eninum’ arrived at a previously unknown roosting site on November 27, 2016 in the Eastern Ethopia close to Somalia border.
The location of ‘Intanki’ which took a landward route to cut across India stopping at several locations en route was received on December 4, 2016 when the falcon was crossing the Arabian Sea. Thereafter, no location was received suggesting loss or failure of transmitter.
‘Hakhizhe’ started migration on November 25, 2016 and reached Somalia on December 3, 2016, and South Africa on December 14, 2016. It is expected to depart from there on its return migration in a next few days, the press release from the Chief Wildlife Warden reported.
The amazing journeys of ‘Longleng’ and other satellite tagged Amur Falcons can be checked by visiting www.satellitetracking.eu.
