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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Nagaland villagers pledge to protect migratory falcons -Pullock Dutta

Nagaland villagers pledge to protect migratory falcons -Pullock Dutta

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published Published on Aug 11, 2013   modified Modified on Aug 11, 2013
-The Telegraph


Jorhat: Villages near the Doyang hydroelectric project in Nagaland today pledged to protect amur falcons, which are killed every year during their brief visit to the area while migrating from Asia to southern Africa.

The villagers trap and kill thousands of the migratory raptors for their meat when they visit the wetlands near the project site in the state's Wokha district between the end of October and beginning of November.

Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), a species of least concern in the IUCN Red List, is endemic to Asia, including parts of Siberia, Mongolia and North Korea. But these birds travel phenomenally long distances (up to 22,000km), passing through India, east Asian and even European countries, while migrating in winter from Asia to southern African countries, including Botswana and Zimbabwe.

The species is protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Convention of Migratory Species, to which India is a signatory.

The massacre of these birds was first documented last year by Conservation India, a Bangalore-based NGO, which stated in a report, "A mind-boggling 1,20,000 to 1,40,000 birds (amur falcons) are being slaughtered in Nagaland every year."

The report said Doyang probably witnessed the single largest congregation of the bird in the world and that it was tragic that they met with such a fate.

"Hunters lay permanent nets close to the water reservoirs to trap the birds when they come to roost during the evenings or when they fly off early in the morning," the report said.

Besides killing the birds for meat, the villagers reportedly keep them alive inside mosquito nets and cane baskets to sell them in markets.

The report triggered concern among wildlife enthusiasts across the country, with the Bombay Natural History Society writing to Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan requesting immediate steps to stop the mass killings and also to create awareness among the villagers involved.

Today, the councils of three villages, Asha, Pangti and Sungro, located near the hydroelectric project, signed a memorandum of understanding with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the Nagaland forest department and Natural Nagas, a society for promoting and preserving wildlife and bio-diversity in the state.

The agreement stated that the village councils would ensure that no villager was involved in the killing or trapping of amur falcons from now on. The village councils also decided to impose a penalty to those found killing or catching the bird.

The MoU was signed at a meeting held at the Pangti village community hall. The chiefs of the three village councils, officials of the forest department, along with representatives of WTI and Natural Nagas attended the meeting.

The WTI and the forest department on their part will provide support by executing local eco-development projects so that villagers who live off these birds can earn a living by other means.

Members of Natural Nagas would carry out a massive awareness drive in these villages so that the residents understand the importance of these winged guests.

Sunil Kyerong, a Wildlife Trust of India official engaged in the project, said: "This is a positive gesture by the village councils and we are sure that we can protest these birds from now on."

He said the residents of these three particular villages, located near the hydel project, were primarily responsible for killing the birds and their lack of awareness about the raptor's importance was the main reason behind their actions.

Kyerong said WTI would start eco-development projects in the villages to provide the villagers with alternative sources of income.


The Telegraph, 11 August, 2013, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130811/jsp/northeast/story_17217589.jsp#.UgcS_qzcjco


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