Nagalands Wokha District has been bustling with excitement since the first batch of Amur falcons arrived in the Doyang Reservoir area last week. Upon the arrival of their special guests, the villagers of Ashaa, Pangti and Sungro once again reaffirmed their last year’s commitment and dedication to protect the falcons with the support of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Nagaland Forest Department. In their incredible journey, the Amur falcons (Falco amurensis), travel from Mongolia, roost in Nagaland for over a month before carrying onwards to the African sub-continent. A protected species under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), tens of thousands of these raptors congregate near the Doyang reservoir in Nagaland every year and this is believed to be the single largest congregation of Amur falcons recorded anywhere in India. In 2012, reports from Conservation India highlighted that majority of the birds were being hunted, prompting a Rapid Action Project (RAP) to protect the birds by WTI and Natural Nagas with the assistance of the State Forest Department supported by CAF India. An awareness campaign was initiated to gain the local communitys support and also sensitize them on the need to conserve the visiting guests. Awareness meetings conducted in different parts of Wokha emphasised the ecological and ethical importance of the Amur falcons and urged villagers to ensure safe passage of these migratory birds. The local community including the village council heads and local forest department authorities enthusiastically participated in this campaign demonstrating their support to the cause. Local churches also played a key role in spreading the message of compassion for Amur falcon, and thus motivating the community to come forward to protect the falcons during their roosting period in Nagaland. An MoU was signed and a subsequent resolution passed by the village councils of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro, making hunting Amur falcons illegal and punishable, which helped in reaching a zero mortality rate in Doyang, by the end of the birds roosting period. The Welcome Programme served as a useful platform for discussing strategic plans for helping conserve the Amur falcons this year and in future as well. Last year, thanks to the wonderful support of the department and the villagers, we were able to form Protection Squads of around 30 former hunters. The same squads are going to patrol the area this year as well to make sure that all visiting falcons are safe, and not a single one is harmed, said Dr Jagdish Kishwan, Chief Advisor to the ED & CEO Wildlife Trust of India. The Forest Department has reported that approximately 2,00,000 falcons have already reached the Wokha District. More falcons are expected to arrive soon which should also include Naga and Pangti the falcons that were satellite-tagged last year, said Dilip Deori, Assistant Manager, Wildlife Trust of India. The Amur falcons also stop in Dima Hasao, which is near Karbi Anglong, Assam, for a few weeks during October and November. During this period, the falcons are hunted and traded in Dima Hasao. Keeping the success of last years awareness programmes, in Nagaland, a Rapid Action Project has also been started in the area to encourage locals to help conserve these birds which play an important role in the eco-system by helping check the insect population, said Radhika Bhagat, Head of the Wild Aid Division which carries out the Rapid Action Projects. Read more here! wti.org.in/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=1285 Photos: WTI
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 05:30:00 +0000
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