Why in news? Manipur to conduct census of Amur falcon, world’s longest travelling raptors in Tamenglong district.

Highlights:

• The Amur falcons locally known as Akhuaipuina, usually arrive in Manipur in mostly in Tamenglong in mid-October from their breeding grounds
• They also cross over the Indian Ocean between Western India and tropical East Africa, a journey of more than 4,000 km, which also includes nocturnal flight.
• The radio-tagging programme of Amur Falcon in Manipur’s Tamenglong was undertaken to conserve and study the route of these long-distance migratory bird

About Amur falcon

• Amur falcon is a small raptor of the falcon family.
• It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India.
• This bird derives it name from the Amur River that forms the border between Russia and China.
• Doyang Lake in Nagaland known for a stopover of this birds during their annual migration. Thus, Nagaland holds a title as the “Falcon Capital of the World,”.

Conservation

• IUCN status : Least Concerned
• This bird is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.