Jorhat, Dec. 6: Taking a cue from Nagaland, a Haflong-based NGO had launched a project about two years back to protect Amur falcons, which come in hundreds to roost at Kopili reservoir at Umrangso in Dima Hasao district during their annual migration.
The project, where local village youths are engaged to guard the falcons at the roosting site along with forest guards, has been successful with no reports of hunting of the birds this year.
"We are proud that till today there are no reports of any birds falling prey to hunting this year," Amit Phonglo, an official of Blue Hills Society, the NGO, told The Telegraph today.
The falcons come in hundreds to roost at the Kopili water reservoir at the end of October and stay till late November before proceeding towards their roosting sites in Africa.
There were reports of the killing of these birds till a couple of years back.
A similar incident had taken place in Wokha district of Nagaland a few years back where large number of Amur falcons were killed by villagers when these birds came to roost at Doyang hydroelectric power project water reservoir.
But the forest department in that state, with the help of the villagers, had taken the initiative to protect these birds and were successful in their efforts.
Phonglo said several NGOs were involved in the project where more than 100 youths have been engaged to guards the birds.
Blue Hills Society, he said, has entered into a partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council and the forest department to carry out the project.
Phonglo said the project this year has received additional support from a donor, Kannan Jayaram, and was reaching out to more villages around the Kopili reservoir through a Save Kalengmaha, Save Dao Pana (local names for Amur falcon) campaign.
"Local youths have formed clubs like the Falcon Youth Club and New Tumbung Tourism Development Society and are assisting the forest department in patrolling Amur falcon roosting sites round the clock. Some 80 Amur falcons have been rescued from hunters and released back into the wild thus far," he said.
Phonglo said a falcon festival was organised on October 27 to promote awareness about the conservation of the species where several dignitaries from the state and district administration participated and extended their support in the promotion of wildlife tourism in Umrangso, with a focus on Amur falcons.
The project also received a major boost when forest and environment minister Pramila Rani Brahma laid a foundation stone at New Tumbung, Umrangso, declaring it an Amur falcon roosting hub and a protected area.
The minister has promised to construct a boundary wall in order to restrict the entry of hunters and provide better protection to the roosting site.
