Flying Free: Save the Amur Falcon

Umrangso, Assam shot into limelight when several reports from the region confirmed hunting of Amur Falcons in large numbers for their meat. This became a serious cause of concern for WTI which had played a pivotal role in mobilising communities in Nagaland in their commitment of not hunting Amur falcons. The project immediately swung into action and was successful in bringing down the hunting of Amur falcons in Umrangso. An Amur Falcon Festival was held to promote the conservation of the species and also provide an opportunity for the local community to benefit from their annual migration, economically. Various cultural events were organised as part of the festival. Bird watching was arranged at roosting sites and discussions were made on Amur falcon and its importance with the school children. The fest strengthened the belief in people’s mind that the stopping of the hunting of the falcons and conserving the region’s wildlife is a cause to be celebrated and that theirs is success story to be told to the world.

WTI’s Amur Falcon conservation project in Wokha, Nagaland could not have its success (zero mortality of falcons in last three years), without the help of the local communities i.e. Lotha tribe. Villagers from the three villages Pangti, Asha and Sungro became the guardians of this migrant raptor.

On request of local villagers of Pangti (VCM) and to take our good work towards another level of conservation of Amur falcon, an interpretation centre cum guest house to cater the tourist inflow in the migrating months of Amur Falcon is being conceptualized. This land for which will be provided by the villagers in Pangti) will aim to provide vital information about the specie, the local history of the place and about the work carried out by the communities and organizations so far towards conserving the falcons. The guest house will cater to tourists, birder’s, researchers visiting Doyang. Both the interpretation centre and guest house will be run by the local VCM’s and the earning will be utilized for self sustaining this building and strengthening community support. This will integrate the conservation action with possibility of revenue generation for local tourism by developing niche tourism.

The construction work of a country boat for protecting Amur falcon roosting sites in Doyang reservoir, Nagaland is going on. The country boat will help to patrol the inaccessible areas of Doyang reservoir. The Amur Falcon protection squad will be able to patrol the roosting sites located around the reservoir with the help of country boat. Field gears like T-shirts, Caps and Torches have been provided to the members of Amur falcon protection squad for better patrolling and monitoring of the area.These activities will eventually help the patrolling team in monitoring the area and thereby help in protecting the amur falcons.

Doyang hydro-electric project reservoir in Wokha district, which hosts the raptors in tens of thousands and is believed to be the single largest aggregation of Amur falcons recorded in India. The field gears provided to the Amur falcon protection squads will aid them in their patrolling duties.  We hope that these activities will ensure the sustained conservation of Amur falcons in Doyang Reservoir, Nagaland in the years to come.

The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor belonging to the falcon family. It breeds in south eastern Siberia and northern China and migrates in large numbers over India-Arabian Sea to southern Africa. In India they pass through north-eastern India, particularly Nagaland, on their way to Arabian Sea islands. Amur Falcons are protected under Wildlife Protection Act (1972), it is also listed in Appendix II of CITES.  India is also a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) for the protection of migratory species which pass through the country. 

Every year, the falcons migrate in large numbers from Eastern Russia and Northern China to Nagaland during October and stay on till December, as a part of their 22,000 km long annual migration to Southern Africa. In Nagaland, most of the birds visit the Doyang Reservoir; additionally they have been spotted in smaller numbers from other districts of Nagaland - Peren, Longleng; Senapati district of Manipur and Umrangso in Assam. In Doyang area they visit and roost mainly in Pangti, Asha and Sungro villages of Wokha district.

In Nagaland, traditionally, hunters would kill this species to provide for food and to sell in local markets. Thus, large numbers of Amur falcon were killed each year. Being a protected species under various National and International laws such killing of the species had to be addressed and the need of the day was to protect these falcons whilst they were migrating through the country. Our strategy was to reduce and finally totally stop Amur falcon killing through community participation and alternative green livelihood options. The birds were also traded live along with their meat. In 2012, lakhs of birds were illegally killed in three villages of Wokha district alone, causing widespread alarm all over the world regarding endangerment of the species and the blatant violation of national and international laws.

The major site of hunting was the Doyang hydro-electric project reservoir in Wokha district, which hosts the raptors in tens of thousands and is believed to be the single largest aggregation of Amur falcons recorded in India. The seasonal mass slaughter of the birds involved people living in about 30 villages, predominantly belonging to a Naga ethnic group, a Scheduled Tribe (ST) whose main livelihood comes from jhum farming and fishing. The hunters would hoist their fishing nets high above the ground, close to the trees where the birds roosted; the birds entangled in the nets, and would then be collected by the hunters, who sold them dead or alive, to fetch amounts lucrative enough for the village youth to stray into the wrong side of the law.

In the month of November 2015, the Union Minister of Forests, Environment and Climate Change visited the roosting site of Amur falcons in the district of Wokha, Nagaland. Representatives from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) interacted with the minister and briefed him about the conservation action plan carried out by WTI for last three years to conserve the falcons in the region.

Actions taken-

1. Sociological Surveys and Micro-Plan prepared

A socio-economic survey of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro villages was conducted. This survey identified the requirements of the three villages and Micro-Plans were prepared for the three villages based on them. These micro –plans are currently being discussed with the PI of ‘Communities for Conservation’ department to finalize them. Based on these micro-plans, alternative livelihood/enhancement of livelihood schemes will be planned and implemented in the three villages.

2. Constitution of 3 Amur protection groups/squads in Pangti, Ashaa & Sungro villages

As in 2012-13, a protection squad was again formed at the three villages in 2014 - 15. This protection squad patrolled the area for any possible killing of Amur falcons. The protection squads were given wages for two months which also contributed in their livelihood for the above mentioned months.

3.  Torches, T-Shirts, Caps, Shoes etc were provided to the Amur falcon protection squads to aid them in their patrolling duties.

 We hope that these activities will ensure the sustained conservation of Amur falcons in Nagaland in the years to come.

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