IMPHAL, Nov 16 � A team of scientists from Bombay Natural History Society is expected to visit Tamenglong in Manipur on November 23 to study the visiting pattern of Amur Falcon birds in the hill ranges of the State, reports said.
The step was taken after a two-day mega wildlife campaign to stop the continuous attacks on and killing of Amur Falcons in Tamenglong district headquarters.
The campaign which concluded on Saturday was initiated after reports of indiscriminate killings of Amur Falcons in Tamenglong district particularly in and around the Barak range and its neighbouring areas. The campaign was organised by the district administration, People for Animals Manipur and Wildlife wing of the State Forest department.
DC Tamenglong RH Gonmei, SP Themthing Ngashangva and Deputy Forest Officer Huri Golmei attended the closing function of the campaign.
People For Animal Manipur activists deliberated upon the importance of wildlife and the urgent need for conserving them. They also focussed on the need of conserving the Amur Falcons which used to visit Tamenglong every year in winter. Amur Falcons come from eastern Siberia near the North East China area. On their way of migration to East Africa, they rest for sometime in the Northeastern States of Nagaland, Manipur and parts of Assam.
According to sources in Tamenglong, the birds sojourn in the area for at least a month till November before flying over the Central Indian plain and Arabian Sea to finally reach the Eastern African countries.
The birds help control the insect population by eating the winged termite and other insects during their stay in Tamenglong, the environmentalist said. Last year, the market value of this bird was about Rs 50 for a live one. The killed and dried ones are also sold.
