Amur Falcon Flies 5,000 Kilometers From India to Somalia in Just Over Five Days

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A tiny Amur falcon tagged by Indian wildlife researchers has completed an astonishing 5,000-kilometer migration from northeastern India to Somalia in just over five days, officials said.

The bird, an adult male named Apapang, is one of three falcons — along with Alang, a young female, and Ahu, an adult female — that began their transoceanic journey on Nov. 11 after being tagged under Phase 2 of the Manipur Amur Falcon Tracking Project led by the Wildlife Institute of India.

Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, announced Apapang’s arrival on the social media platform X, noting the falcon has completed similar ocean crossings in past years.

“Apapang has now done nearly 5,400 km, and it has taken him 5 days and 15 hours,” Sahu wrote.

Weighing only about 150 grams, Apapang stunned scientists by covering nearly 1,000 kilometers per day, including more than 3,000 kilometers in his first 76 hours after tagging. Tracking data shows he crossed central India and then made the long nonstop flight over the Arabian Sea to the Horn of Africa.

Researchers have been monitoring the three falcons as they undertake one of the world’s most demanding bird migrations, traveling from Manipur’s forests to East Africa. The other two tagged birds are continuing their journey.

Amur falcons were once heavily hunted in northeast India, but conservation efforts in recent years — led in part by local communities in Manipur — have helped protect the species. Villagers who once hunted the birds now play a key role in safeguarding them, and the annual migration has become a source of regional pride.

Scientists say Apapang’s latest flight further highlights the extraordinary endurance of the small raptors as they cross continents during their seasonal migration.

GAROWE ONLINE