The Amur falcons have begun to arrive in Manipur after travelling over 20,000 km.

Amur Falcon

• The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family.
• It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern and East Africa.

How it migrates?

• Locally known as Akhuipuina, the bird arrives mainly in Manipur and Nagaland on its southbound migration from breeding grounds in North China, Eastern Mongolia and far-east Russia.
• They travel to Manipur en-route to its wintering grounds in South Africa.
• The one-way journey via India is about 20,000 km long and the birds do this twice a year.
• They spend three-four weeks in many parts of Manipur to build fat reserves by preying on termites that emerge around this time.

Conservation status

• It is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and included under its Schedule IV.
• It is listed in the IUCN Red list as Least Concern.
• Hunting of the birds or possessing its meat is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to Rs 5,000.
• In 2018, the forest department started a conservation programme by radio-tagging the birds to study their migratory route.

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