Every October, tens of thousands of Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) migrate from Siberia to South Africa, passing through Nagaland in India. They fly at night, arriving in the Doyang Reservoir area in the early morning to settle along the transmission lines, resting and hawking insects. By late evening they move to the banks of the reservoir to roost. Unfortunately hunters are waiting for them, using nets to trap thousands. At other sites the birds are killed by guns and catapults.
During the peak migration period, up to 12-14,000 birds are caught every day. These are sold for local consumption.
It is illegal to trap Amur Falcons and yet the slaughter continues. India is a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity. As such it is duty bound to stop the massacre and provide safe passage for these migrating falcons.
Now, when will the disgraceful massacre stop?
Note: Video and background information courtesy of Conservation India LINK.