Thrilling Journey: Satellite-Tagged Amur Falcon ‘Chiuluan2’ Triumphantly Reaches South Africa from Manipur’s Tamenglong
In a remarkable journey, a satellite-tagged Amur Falcon named ‘Chiuluan2’ has successfully reached South Africa, having crossed the formidable Kalahari Desert and covering over 20,000 kilometers. This momentous update was shared by R. Suresh Kumar, a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India, who has been diligently tracking the bird’s migratory path. The male falcon, originating from Tamenglong district’s Chiuluan village in Manipur, made a notable stopover in Somalia after an uninterrupted five days and 17-hour flight over the Arabian Sea.
Chiuluan2 landed approximately 360 kilometers west of Johannesburg in a region known as the African Veldt. Along with ‘Chiuluan2,’ a female Amur falcon named ‘Gwangram’ was also released from Tamenglong with a satellite transmitter on November 8 last year. However, ‘Gwangram’ has not transmitted any signals since December 13. These efforts are part of a broader study meant to understand the migratory routes and environmental challenges faced by Amur falcons, which are the longest-traveling birds in the world.
Amur falcons breed in southeast Russia and northeast China before migrating to Africa for the winter. They make a crucial stop in the northeast Indian regions, including Nagaland and Manipur, in October to feed and prepare for their extensive journey. Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, these birds were part of a pioneering radio-tagging project initiated in Tamenglong in November 2018 and continued in 2019 with five more birds.
The initiative is significant for contributing valuable insights into the migratory patterns and behaviors of these birds, highlighting their impressive endurance and adaptive strategies during migration. This study also fosters a better understanding and appreciation of these avian travelers, emphasizing the importance of conserving their natural habitats along the migration corridor.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/manipur/satellite-tagged-amur-falcon-chiuluan2-reaches-south-africa-from-manipurs-tamenglong/18022/
Category : Manipur,Manipur’s Tamenglong,South Africa,Wildlife Institute of India
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Publish Date: 2025-01-06 11:12:00
