Calls for safe roosting mark Amur Falcon festival
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Tamenglong, November 11 2023: The 8th edition of Amur Falcon festival was held on Saturday at Tamenglong Higher Secondary School in Tamenglong district headquarters.

Amur Falcon festival was organised by Tamenglong Forest Division in collaboration with Rainforest Club, Tamenglong and Wildlife Trust of India with an aim to educate the public about the need to protect the migratory bird Amur Falcon locally known as 'Akhuaipuina'.

Tamenglong DC Dr L Angshim Dangshawa, Divisional Forest Officer Amandeep and ADC chief executive officer Kachamthai Feiga Gangmei attended the festival as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Manipur Wildlife Explorers president Khoyumthem Brajesh Kumar also attended the event as a resource person while Tamenglong SDO Meidinbui Dichong, wildlife warden Nahemiah Pan-mei, members of Manipur Wildlife Explorers were among the guests of the festival.

Migratory bird 'Akhuaipuina' started arriving at Bhalok, Matung, Puching, Punglam, Duigailong and Chiuluan roosting sites at Chiuluan village along Barak bank and at Puching (Khebuching) village along Irang river bank since the first week of November.

Every year, Tamenglong district magistrate bans hunting and killing of the migratory birds and issues prohibitory order directing all air guns users to deposit the same at office of their respective village authority.

Following the prohibitory order, hunting and killing of 'Akhuaipuina' has declined significantly.

In his speech at the event, DC Dr Angshim Dangshawa said that seven/eight villages of Tamenglong are blessed with the migratory bird but yet to celebrate Amur Falcon festival in the right spirit as hunting of the migratory bird continues though at reduced rate.

He appealed to people of all the villages where the migratory birds roost after their long flight to continue cooperation and support to protect the migratory bird.

He also advised students to inculcate the habit of protection and conservation of Akhuaipuina from a young age.

Due to law-and-order situation in the state, Amur Falcon festival could not be organised in a grand manner this year but there is plan to hold the event in a big way next year, he added.

In his keynote and welcome address, Tamenglong DFO Amandeep said that volunteers along with a joint team of forest and police department have started patrolling the roosting sites along Barak River valley in Chiuluan village every day since October 15.He said that Bhalok, Matung, Puching, Punglam, Duigailong and Chiuluan villages are some of the places where local protection teams are stationing for the protection of Amur Falcon.

According to Amandeep, this year has been very special as challenges of protection and conservation has increased manifold in light of new development taking place.

This year the first sighting of Amur Falcon was reported in the second week of October.

However, roosting in large flock started in the 3rd week of October, he added and appealed to general public, civil society organisations, clubs, students and everyone to discourage hunting.

He also informed that the department is conducting awareness campaign at different villages by meeting local volunteers and village authority members.

In his speech, ADC CEO Feiga Gangmei said that nothing will happen to the migratory bird Akhuaipuina if local people change their mindset and have firm commitment to protect the migratory bird.

He appealed to the Tamenglong denizens to come out to protect and conserve the migratory bird while maintaining that local people should take more responsibility for protecting the migratory bird.

Phalong (Bhalok) dance troupe performed a traditional dance to welcome all the guests and participants of the 8th Amur Falcon 'Akhuaipuina' festival 2023 while Puching Women Society presented 'Akhuaipuina' dance to enchant the gathering.

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