Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, conservation scientists and wildlife authorities in Manipur confirmed the triumphant return of satellite-tagged Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) to their staging grounds in the Tamenglong district.
Amur falcon (Falco amurensis)
- The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is the world’s longest-distance migrating raptor.
- Size - Averaging the size of a pigeon or an apple and weighing around 120 to 170 grams.
- These extraordinary birds cover an annual round-trip journey of up to 20,000 kilometres across continents and oceans.
- Breeding Grounds - The falcons spend the northern summer breeding in southeastern Siberia, Mongolia, and Northern China.
- Wintering Grounds - They winter in Southern and East Africa, spending time in countries like Somalia, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa.
- The Migratory Route - Traveling across 23 countries, the birds undertake the longest regular overwater passage of any raptor.
- Breeding during the summer in Siberia and Northern China, Amur falcons congregate in massive flocks across Northeast India (particularly Nagaland and Manipur) around October to feed on swarming termites and insects.
- From India, they undertake a grueling non-stop flight across the Arabian Sea (~3,000 km over open water) to wintering grounds in Southern and Eastern Africa, before reversing the route in spring.
- Satellite Telemetry Insights - Radio-tagging initiatives have provided precise tracking data, revealing exact flyways, wind-drift adaptations, and critical stopover sites that require urgent international protection.
Conservation Success
- From Hunting to Protection - Historically, Manipur and neighboring Nagaland faced severe challenges with mass trapping and hunting of Amur falcons for local consumption.
- Through rigorous community-led conservation campaigns, religious leaders' appeals, strict enforcement of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and ecotourism initiatives.
- Thus, these regions transformed from the "falcon capital of the world for hunting" into global champions of raptor safety.
- Global Ecological Indicator - As apex insectivores, Amur falcons act as bio-indicators of agricultural health and wetland vitality across multiple continents, underscoring the necessity of cross-border environmental cooperation.
Reference
Hindustan Times | Satellite-tagged Amur falcons
