Lemsachenlok Society said the number of Amur Falcons arriving at their roosting site– Yaongyimchen Community Biodiversity Conservation Area in Longleng district – has risen this year.
Dr Lima and Buten Henmei of the NGO in a release stated that the falcons, which are known as “Tuma Loih” in local dialect of Yaongyimchen, started arriving in batches since October second week and their numbers are more this year as per the latest data. The release claimed that Lemsachenlok Society of three villages – Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu – had initiated the biodiversity conservation by setting aside a huge forest area as community biodiversity conservation area, which today gives asylum to hundreds of flora and fauna species.
Pointing out that conservation was a very unique initiative in the area as the community had surrendered their land by shifting their regular jhum cultivation to different locations in order to provide a conducive ecosystem for the Amur Falcons which come all the way from Mongolia, the NGO said these raptors feed on flying termites and other insects to regain their strength before continuously flying for five days and five nights to South Africa for the winter.
The society said the entire community from Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu villages enthusiastically kicked off preparations for the raptors’ homecoming from October. Mentioning that volunteers have been alternatively keeping a vigil in and around the entire area, Lemsachenlok Society said the women folk are engaged in cleaning the surroundings, while the men are making renovations and constructing watchtowers.
Amur Falcon is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Convention on Migratory Species, besides being listed on the Appendix II of CITES.
Meanwhile, based on the resolution adopted by citizens in 2010, the village councils in their joint meeting on Monday reaffirmed to protect the falcons during their short stay in the area and prohibit any activities that could harm the ecosystem. The joint meeting resolved that patrolling would be conducted within the village jurisdiction, especially the roosting site, and whoever was caught indulging in any act of distracting the biodiversity, especially the Amur falcons, in any manner would be dealt with as per the resolution.