Chiulon reaches South Africa
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 26 2019:
Chiulon has become the first satellite radio transmitter fitted Amur Falcon to have reached South Africa from Manipur.
Chiulon was named so after Chiulon village located on the bank of Barak River in Tamenglong district.
According to information received from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the radio-transmitted Amur Falcon reached South Africa at 8.30 am yesterday.
It would roost there this winter season before returning to Mongolia and China.
Notably, the State Forest Department together with WII fitted five Amur Falcons with satellite radio transmitters on October 31 and November 1 this year with the primary objective of studying their migratory route.
The five Amur Falcons were named Chiulon, Puching, Barak, Irang and Phalong.
But no signals had been received from Puching and Barak.
Of the five Amur Falcons fitted with radio transmitters, Chiulon has become the first one to have reached South Africa.
However, all connections with Amur Falcon named Tamenglong which was fitted with radio transmitter were lost after it reached Zambia last year.
It is said that Amur Falcon Longleng which was fitted with radio transmitter in Nagaland is flying behind Chiulon, according to the WII.
Meanwhile WII scientist Dr Sureshkumar has hailed Forest Department, local villagers and the Rain Forest Club, Tamenglong for the successful flight of Chiulon from Manipur to South Africa.