Public urged to provide safe passage for Amur falcon

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Oct. 31 (EMN): Confirming that there is no roosting of Amur falcons in Mokokchung district, the Forest department of the state has urged the public to provide a safe passage for the special winged guests as the district acts as the connecting corridor or flyway for them.

The appeal was made during a programme called “Amur Falcon in Mokokchung,” organised by the Mokokchung Forest division in collaboration with the Wildlife Division, Dimapur, at its office in Marepkong ward in Mokokchung town on October 31 on the theme “Listening to our voices”.

Speaking on the topic ‘Story of Amur Falcon in Nagaland with special reference to Mokokchung,’ the beat officer of Changtongnya Moamongba recalled that conservation of Amur falcon started in Changtonya village under the initiative of the Forest department in 1989. He added that in 2001, Changtongya Village Council took an ambitious decision to protect and conserved the majestic bird and declared a CCA known as ‘Community Biodiversity Reserved Forest Kanglatu’ comprising an approximate area of 700 hectares. He lamented that Amur falcons no longer roost in large numbers in Mokokchung and shifted its roosting places to other locations in the state.

Moamongba observed that shifting of roosting place might be connected to loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, human over-population and removal of roosting trees.

Speaking on the topic ‘Bird migration and its significance,’ I Sashilemla, range officer of Mokokchung, underscored that migration of animals and birds to an area is an indication of the availability of resources for the migrators.

She asserted that migratory birds act as the controller of pest, pollination etc. and bring balance in the eco-system. She added that it enhances conservation.

She observed that the entry of Amur falcons top the district has two routes — from Longleng and Wokha districts. She also informed that the department is actively patrolling and observing the birds’ activities.

Sashilemla said that the department has been pro-actively spreading awareness and interacting with the stakeholders and the village council of various villages to protect and pave a safe passage for the migratory birds.
She asserted that it should not be the sole responsibility of the Forest department but a collective responsibility to protect the visitors.

Takaho Kinimi, Wildlife Warden Mokokchung, stated that there was hue and cry from the international community after the mass killing of Amur falcons was reported in 2012. In this connection, he stated that the Forest department took proactive protection and conservation measures, which turned out to be a global success following which Nagaland was awarded and declared as the Amur falcon capital of the world.

He reiterated the need to provide protection to the special visitors and appealed to the village councils and stakeholders to work towards conservation by setting up community reserved areas. With the declaration of Nagaland as the capital of Amur falcons, he asserted that the people of the state would be answerable towards their safety.

Also speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sentitula, Divisional Forest Officer, Mokokchung division, informed that out of 86 recognised villages in the district, around 20 villages have banned hunting within their jurisdictions.

In this connection, she urged upon the public to seriously ponder on the conservation of the raptors with scientific application.

ADC Mokokchung, Shashank Pratep Singh, and the superintendent of police of Mokokchung, Vishal Chuahan, also stressed on the need to protect and conserve the environment.