Two geo-tagged Amur falcons, named Alang and Apapang, returned to Tamenglong district in Manipur on Thursday after completing their annual migratory journey across 23 countries in Asia and Africa, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Tamenglong said in a statement on Friday.
Significance for conservation and research
The birds were fitted with geo-tagging devices at the Chiuluan roosting site in Tamenglong in November 2025 to record their movement and migration patterns, the forest department said. Their successful round trip reinforces the value of satellite tracking, systematic monitoring and community engagement in ongoing conservation initiatives for the species.
"An encouraging milestone," the Divisional Forest Officer of Tamenglong described the development in an official statement.
Amur falcons are small migratory raptors, roughly the size of pigeons, weighing between 95 and 188 grams. They breed in summer across Siberia and parts of northern China, and spend the non-breeding season in southern Africa. During autumn, many stop over in northeastern India — notably Nagaland, Manipur and Assam — between mid-October and early November to feed and build fat reserves before undertaking a long, non-stop flight across the Indian Ocean to Africa.
Route, distances and ecological role
These falcons are known for their extraordinary annual movement, covering between 20,000 and 30,000 kilometres on the round trip. The data from Alang and Apapang, which traversed 23 countries, will add to a decade-long effort to map migration corridors and identify key stopover and roosting sites in South and Southeast Asia and Africa.
Beyond the spectacle of long-distance migration, Amur falcons contribute to ecosystem balance by consuming large numbers of insects during stopovers and on wintering grounds. Their presence at aggregation sites also provides opportunities for local communities and researchers to engage in conservation awareness and habitat protection.
Background of geo-tagging initiative
The geo-tagging programme for Amur falcons began in Nagaland in 2013, led by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The initiative was extended to Manipur in 2019, and Tamenglong is emerging as an important landscape within this network of monitored roosting sites.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birds | Alang and Apapang (geo-tagged Amur falcons) |
| Tagging site | Chiuluan roosting site, Tamenglong (Nov 2025) |
| Migration | Annual round trip across 23 countries; 20,000–30,000 km typical range |
| Weight range | 95–188 grams |
Local stewardship and policy attention
The forest department credited continuous monitoring and community participation for the successful tracking and safe return of the falcons. The return also drew mention from Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, who noted on the social platform X that the birds had arrived in Manipur after travelling from their breeding grounds.
Officials say the Tamenglong roosting sites are increasingly important for conservation planning because reliable stopover locations are crucial to the species' survival during migration. Monitoring through geo-tagging helps officials identify threats along migration corridors, such as habitat loss or illegal hunting, and design targeted interventions.
What the tracking data can inform
- Identification of critical stopover and refuelling sites across countries
- Timing of migration to plan local protection measures during peak congregation
- Cross-border conservation coordination between range countries
Conservationists and forest officials said the successful return of Alang and Apapang will bolster efforts to expand scientific research and strengthen community-driven protection at roosts in Tamenglong and neighbouring states. Continued tagging and long-term data collection were described as essential to mapping the full suite of challenges migratory falcons face on their long route between Asia and Africa.
Authorities did not provide additional technical details of the tags or the exact route taken through the 23 countries. The forest department said it will continue monitoring movements and work with partners to translate tracking data into practical conservation measures for the species and its habitats.
