As we are aware, the migratory bird Amur Falcon (‘Molulem’ in the local dialect) has started arriving in Nagaland. This magnificent bird is a long-distance, trans-equatorial migrant, travelling up to 22,000 km in a year from eastern Asia all the way to South Africa and back in early autumn.
In Nagaland, they gather in huge flocks (up to 1,00,000) for up to 3–4 weeks to feed and rest before continuing their journey. They play an important role in the ecosystem, acting as natural regulators of pest populations, pollination, etc.
The efforts made by the state government and the public have been helping to provide a safe passage for this bird over the years, earning Nagaland state the sobriquet “Amur falcon capital of the world”.
Moreover, it has been accorded legal protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. According to the Act, the amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a protected species listed in Schedule IV of the law.
Hunting of these birds or having their meat in possession is a criminal offence punishable up to three years imprisonment under the Act. Hence, it is appealed to all the concerned and responsible citizens of our district to refrain from hunting amur falcons and provide a safe stay and passage to our state guests.
The Nokinketer 