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Falcons Fly 20,000km Round Trip to Manipur!
23 Oct
Summary
- Two satellite-tagged Amur falcons completed a 20,000 km migration.
- The birds flew non-stop for six days from India to Somalia.
- Local communities in Manipur protect the falcons during their stopover.
Two satellite-tagged Amur falcons, Apapang and Alang, have successfully returned to Manipur, India, concluding an extraordinary 20,000 km round-trip migration. These birds previously undertook a remarkable six-day, non-stop flight spanning nearly 6,000 km from northeast India to Somalia, Africa.
Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India tagged Apapang and Alang in November 2025. They are now expected to spend two to three weeks in the mountainous regions of Tamenglong district in Manipur. This area serves as a crucial stopover point where the falcons refuel by feeding on termites before their next long-haul flight.
The Amur falcon tracking project, initiated in 2013, has been instrumental in conservation efforts, transforming local hunters into protectors of these migratory species. This successful tracking project provides invaluable data on the falcons' migration patterns, including their long flights and reliance on abundant termite prey in India's northeastern regions.
