Hunting banned in Mnp villages as Amur Falcons arrive

Residents of 36 villages were ordered to deposit their air guns as the district administration in Manipur’s Tamenglong district imposed a total ban on hunting, killing, catching, or possession of Amur Falcons which have started arriving in the district a few days ago.
Like each year, the migratory birds locally known as Akhuaipuina or Tamuanpui, have started arriving in Tamenglong district, officials said.
The first flocks of the world’s longest-traveling migratory birds have begun arriving in the first week of October this year, earlier than usual, in the district and parts of Nagaland.
Officials said that migratory birds were spotted at Guangram village, one of the key roosting sites in Manipur on October 7 last.
With the sighting of the birds flocking, the Tamenglong district administration, in an order passed on October 14, imposed a total ban on hunting, catching, killing, and selling of Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) by any person or group within Tamenglong district and its adjoining areas with immediate effect.
While issuing the prohibitory order, the district administration further asked residents of over 36 villages in the district and bordering villages in Noney district to deposit air guns to their respective village authorities.
Tamenglong district magistrate Dr L Angshim Dangshawa issued the prohibitory order after receiving a letter from the Tamenglong Forest Division requesting the district administration to issue necessary prohibitory orders for the protection and conservation of the migratory bird species during their seasonal arrival in the district.
It noted that hunting, killing, catching, or possession of Amur Falcons in any manner for food, trade, or otherwise is a punishable offence under sections 50 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under the said Act, I, Dr L Angshim Dangshawa, IAS, District Magistrate, Tamenglong, hereby order a total ban on hunting, catching, killing, and selling of Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) by any person or group within Tamenglong District and its adjoining areas with immediate effect,” the order read.
The migratory birds generally arrive in many parts of Tamenglong district and bordering areas from the first to second week of October and are likely to roost till end of November, and considering this period as crucial in their life cycle, the order noted.
As such, all air guns within the district shall be deposited with the respective village authorities for safe custody until the last flock leaves their roosting sites or till November 30, 2025, whichever is earlier, it added.
The concerned village authorities were also ordered to keep the air guns deposited in their custody and report compliance to this office by October 30.
Any person found willfully violating this prohibitory order shall face action under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other relevant laws in force, the district magistrate warned in the order.
According to the officials of the state forest department, this year the migratory birds arrived earlier than expected. Last year, the birds reached Tamenglong in the last week of October.
In a major conservation milestone and to track the routes they travel, the state forest department fitted two Amur falcons – Chiuluan 2-and Guangram – with satellite transmitters under a project led by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
Officials confirmed that Chiuluan-2, a male falcon tagged in Tamenglong, successfully completed its journey and returned to its natural breeding grounds in Amur, Russia, on May 28, 2025.
Since 2015, the Manipur government, in collaboration with NGOs, village councils, and youth clubs, has been spearheading extensive conservation efforts to protect the Amur falcons.