Published on: Nov 27, 2025 08:08 pm IST
The speed of radio-tagged Amur falcons this year could be increased because of the favourable oceanic winds, said a Manipur forest official 
AI Quick Read
IMPHAL: Apapang, a male Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) radio-tagged in Manipur’s Tamenglong district, has made a flight of 6,100 km to Kenya in a week after crossing the Arabian sea, officials said.
As per the latest satellite data of their migratory journey, Amur Falcon named Apapang has reached Zambia in Africa. (Sourced)
“Earlier radio-tagged Amur Falcons took not less than ten days to reach Kenya (from Manipur) as they took four to five days only to cross the Arabian sea. But this time, Apapang reached Kenya on November 18 after it was released from Manipur (on November 11),” said Divisional forest officer (DFO) Kharibam Hitler Singh of the state’s Tamenglong forest division, who had been monitoring the bird’s migratory route.
“The speed of Apapang might have been increased because of the favourable oceanic winds or the bird flies faster,” he said.
Three satellite-tagged Amur Falcons, world’s longest flying migratory birds, called ‘Apapang’, ‘Ahu’ and ‘Alang,’ named after a roosting site and two rivers-Barak and Irang- in Manipur’s Tamenglong district, started their migratory journey soon after being radio-tagged with satellite transmitters from Chiuluan village in Tamenglong district on November 11.
Apapang is an adult male falcon while Alu and Alang are females.
“Apapang seems to be the fastest among these birds,” the forest official added.
This remarkable migratory journey showcases the endurance of these tiny migratory birds and is one of the record flights for raptors of this size.
“Now Apapang has reached Zambia while Alang is in Tanzania, as per the latest satellite data of their migratory journey. But Ahu is still at the horn of Africa. It is not making much movement. Let us pray for its safety,” the official further added.
The radio-tagging programme of Amur Falcons was taken up for the first time in Tamenglong district in November 2018, in a move to conserve wildlife.
