Amur Falcon's Remarkable Migration Journey from Manipur to Myanmar
Incredible Migration of Amur Falcon
Radio-tagged Amur Falcon in Manipur (Photo: AT)
Guwahati, May 11: A male Amur Falcon, named Apapang, which was radio-tagged alongside two other falcons in the Tamenglong district of Manipur, has successfully reached eastern Myanmar. On May 5, this remarkable bird completed a record-breaking non-stop flight of 4,750 kilometers from Somalia in Africa to central India, traversing the Arabian Sea in just 95 hours, as reported by officials.
Dr. Suresh Kumar from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, who has been tracking the bird's migratory path, confirmed that Apapang has now arrived in eastern Myanmar. The three satellite-tagged Amur Falcons, Apapang, Ahu, and Alang, began their migration shortly after being fitted with satellite transmitters in Chiuluan village, Tamenglong, on November 11 of the previous year. Apapang is an adult male, while Ahu and Alang are females.
It is noteworthy that Apapang had previously undertaken a non-stop journey of 6,100 kilometers to Kenya in less than a week, also crossing the Arabian Sea during its migration in November 2025.
Officials noted that Ahu and Alang have yet to commence their non-stop flights from Somalia.
The initiative to radio-tag Amur Falcons was launched by the Tamenglong Forest Division in Manipur in November 2018, marking the first such effort in the region aimed at wildlife conservation.
Locally referred to as Akhuaipuina (Taomuanpui), Amur Falcons are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and are classified under Schedule I. These birds breed in southeast Russia and northeast China during the summer months and migrate to their winter habitats in South Africa. Their annual journey spans approximately 20,000 kilometers, with their return trip beginning in April-May through Afghanistan and East Asia.