Imphal: Three Amur falcons tagged in Manipur in Nov last year under the state’s satellite tracking initiative are safe and flying in different parts of the African continent, scientists monitoring their movement said.The birds named Ahu, Alang and Apapang were fitted with satellite transmitters on Nov 8 last year at the Chiuluan roosting site in Tamenglong district and set free.
The tagging exercise was jointly carried out by the Manipur forest department and the Wildlife Institute of India, with active support from Tamenglong forest division officials and volunteers from Chiuluan village.Following their release, the three Amur falcons reached Africa within a record time of nine to 10 days, showcasing the species’ long-distance migratory capability. Since then, they have been wintering in different African nations.Dr R Suresh Kumar of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, in his latest communication on Friday, said all three birds are active and doing well. While there were earlier concerns about Ahu’s movements, scientists have now clarified that the bird is exhibiting local movements confined to Somalia.According to the latest satellite data, Ahu is currently in Somalia, Apapang in Zimbabwe and Alang in Botswana.Officials recalled that during the previous wintering cycle, a tagged bird named Chiuluan 2 had begun its northward migration towards its breeding grounds on April 14, 2025. Scientists are closely monitoring the present trio to study their return journey and gather further insights into migration routes and stopover sites.The Amur falcon tracking project is aimed at strengthening conservation efforts and deepening scientific understanding of one of the world’s longest migratory raptors, which annually travel between Asia and southern Africa, with Manipur’s Tamenglong district serving as a key stopover site.
