Amur Falcon in India

Table of Contents

Amur Falcon- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 3: Environment- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Recently, migratory Amur falcons started arriving to Tamenglong district of Manipur for the annual stopover.
In this context, Manipur State Forest and Environment Minister have appealed to the people not to hunt the seasonal visitors.

About: Amur falcons are the world’s longest traveling raptors and they start traveling with the onset of winters each year.
- Scientific Name of Amur Falcon: Falco Amurensis.
Breeding Grounds: Amur Falcon breed in southeastern Siberia and northern China.
Migratory route: Falcons visit the district every year from breeding grounds in China and Russia before beginning their onward voyage to Africa for the winter- a journey of more than 30,000 km.
Protection Status of the Amur Falcons:
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Least Concern (LC).
- Amur Falcons are also protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Amur Falcons are also protected under the Convention on Migratory Species, to which India is a signatory, making it obligatory for India to protect the birds.

Stopover in India: Doyang Lake in Nagaland is known for the Amur falcons’ stopover during their annual migration from their breeding grounds to warmer South Africa.
- “Falcon Capital of the World,” title is given to Nagaland for this reason only.
Ecosystem Services: Amur Falcons stay in Nagaland for around a month and help in maintaining the ecosystem by feeding on a large number of insects, thus controlling their population.
Punishment: the hunting of the Amur Falcons is punishable under the Manipur Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and could lead to three years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000.