AMUR FALCON (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Manipur Forest Department will carry out a head count of Amur falcons-the world’s longest-travelling raptors- in Tamenglong district.

Amur Falcon

• Local Name and Habitat: Locally known as Akhuipuina, these birds primarily arrive in the Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland.
• Long-Distance Migration: They breed in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China and embark on long-distance migrations in large flocks to spend winters in Southern and East Africa. 
• Their one-way journey via India spans approximately 20,000 km, which they undertake twice a year.

Conservation Efforts

• Legal Protection: The Amur Falcon is safeguarded under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and is listed under Schedule IV.
• Strict Penalties: Hunting these birds or possessing their meat is a punishable offense, with potential imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to 25,000 rupees, or the imposition of bonds.
• Conservation Initiatives: In 2018, the forest department initiated a conservation program that involved radio-tagging the birds to facilitate the study of their migratory routes.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern.
• Threats: Illegal trapping and killing during migration, habitat loss from agricultural practices and land reclamation.