Manipur bans hunting of migratory birds

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Oct. 29 (EMN): The district authorities of Tamenglong and Senapati have ordered a ban on hunting, catching, killing and selling of migratory birds including Amur falcon.

Stating that hunting, killing, destruction of wildlife including Amur falcon in any way for food or possession or otherwise is a punishable offence under Wildlife Protection Act 1972,Deputy Commissioner(DC) Mahesh Chaudhari of Senapati district in an order banned “hunting, catching, killing and selling migratory birds(including Amur falcon)by anyone in the district with immediate effect.”

The village authorities of Liyai, Phuba, Maiba, Saranamai, Tunggam, Phaibung, Lakhamai, Thonglang, Karong, TNK Senapati, Makhel, Toubumai an Kaibi should strictly monitor the implementation of the order and in case of any reports of violation, the concerned SDO should take up appropriate action in accordance with the existing law and in consultation with the Divisional Forest Officer Senapati, the order stated.

The step has been taken up after sighting migratory birds in some parts of Senapati district in the current month.

The report of sighting Amur falcons in Tamenglong town, 150 km west of Imphal, was first conveyed by a resident on October 13 this year. Later, locals shared the information of the birds arriving in big numbers at Chiuluan Barak roosting area in the district on October 20.

Since then, the Tamenglong DC also ordered a ban on all air guns in the district and directed to deposit the air guns with the respective village authorities’ office.

When contacted, DFO Amandeep of Tamenglong Forest Division said, “The department has taken up regular checking and awareness programmes in the district.”

Informing that the Tamenglong district DC has also been requested to take up necessary steps to prevent hunting of the Amur falcons, he added that the forest authority is also planning to organise the Amur Falcons festival next month as part of its continuous conservation initiatives.

In 2019, a five-member Wildlife Institute of India team led by Dr. Suresh Kumar had radio-tagged five Amur falcons, including two males, at Puching village and other Tamenglong areas in Manipur with the support of the Manipur Forest Department, district administration, Rainforest Club, Tamenglong and locals.

The radio-tagging programme of Amur falcons started in Manipur in 2018 as part of an initiative to conserve wildlife and also to study the route of these long-distance migratory birds and the environmental patterns along the route, as India is a signatory to an international agreement on conservation of migratory birds of prey.

Amur falcons which migrate to their wintering grounds in South Africa, usually arrive in large numbers during October in Nagaland and Manipur besides other places in NE undertaking a yearly journey of about 20,000 km. They leave the region in November after having enough food for their non-stop flight to Africa where they spend their winters.