Dimapur| November 17 : It’s that time of the year again when thousands of Amur Falcon birds swarm parts of Nagaland. The Amur Falcons undertake long and arduous journey from South Eastern Siberia and Northern China and all the way down to South Africa where they spend the winter and then journey back home during the summer. Unfortunately, the birds travel thousands of kilometers en-route through Nagaland only to be killed and sold in the local markets.
The Amur Falcons were first spotted in Nagaland in the early 1990’s. The birds were largely spotted in parts of Mokokchung and Wokha districts. Over the years, the migratory path of the birds has expanded into other parts of the State also. With the increasing number of birds, hunters have established a market where the birds are being sold illegally in many parts of the State. Of late, it has been learnt the Amur Falcons are being sold in abundance at the Doyang Hydro project area in Wokha district. Sale of the birds was banned in Wokha town and along the highway marketing sheds last year.
The Department of Forest (Wildlife division) has been appealing to refrain from killing the Amur Falcon which is not found indigenously in the State. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Wokha district has appealed to all those involved in trapping and commercialization of the bird to refrain from doing so.
The Amur Falcons which are largely also spotted in Changtongya under Mokokchung district, efforts have been made to stop hunting the birds. The government has converted the area into an eco-tourism hotspot and established the Changtongya Biodiversity Reserve. Tourist amenities like bird watch towers and trekking routes have been built and the place now attracts hundreds of bird watchers every year. Similar efforts have been made by many villages and groups in other parts of the State to save these migratory birds; but it appears a lot more needs to be done.
The Amur Falcons were first spotted in Nagaland in the early 1990’s. The birds were largely spotted in parts of Mokokchung and Wokha districts. Over the years, the migratory path of the birds has expanded into other parts of the State also. With the increasing number of birds, hunters have established a market where the birds are being sold illegally in many parts of the State. Of late, it has been learnt the Amur Falcons are being sold in abundance at the Doyang Hydro project area in Wokha district. Sale of the birds was banned in Wokha town and along the highway marketing sheds last year.
The Department of Forest (Wildlife division) has been appealing to refrain from killing the Amur Falcon which is not found indigenously in the State. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Wokha district has appealed to all those involved in trapping and commercialization of the bird to refrain from doing so.
The Amur Falcons which are largely also spotted in Changtongya under Mokokchung district, efforts have been made to stop hunting the birds. The government has converted the area into an eco-tourism hotspot and established the Changtongya Biodiversity Reserve. Tourist amenities like bird watch towers and trekking routes have been built and the place now attracts hundreds of bird watchers every year. Similar efforts have been made by many villages and groups in other parts of the State to save these migratory birds; but it appears a lot more needs to be done.
