Jorhat, Nov. 3: Naga, the Amur falcon, which was fitted with a satellite tracking device in Nagaland last year, returned to the state today after completing the migratory route and flying about 22,000km in almost a year.

“This is a historic day for the scientific community and the conservationists and the people of Nagaland. Naga arrived at Doyang in Wokha district of Nagaland today after completing the great migration of 22,000km from Nagaland to South Africa, back to Mongolia and to Nagaland,” M. Lokeswara Rao, the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, told The Telegraph today from Delhi.

He said another bird, Pangti, was following Naga and was expected to arrive at Nagaland within the next couple of days.

Three Amur falcons, Naga, Wokha and Pangti, were fitted with satellite tracking devices on November 7 at Doyang, where the birds come annually during October-November “to roost near the water reservoir the Doyang Hydroelectric Power Project”. Wokha, according to the device’s signals, is still in South Africa, forcing the scientific community to believe that the bird might have died or the satellite tag on it might have fallen off.