Amur falcon completes non-stop 3,800-km-long flight in 93 hours to reach India
In a remarkable feat of endurance and instinct, the Amur falcon known as Chiuluan2 has arrived in India after completing a nonstop 3,800-kilometre flight from Somalia in just 93 hours.Tracked by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chiuluan2's journey shows the awe-inspiring power of migration and the resilience of this small raptor species.Chiuluan2, named after a village in Manipur's Tamenglong district, is part of a satellite-tagging study conducted by the Manipur Forest Department, WII, and local communities.The epic journey over skies begins ! While we track him by satellite, he navigates by the stars, the sun, the wind and something science still can't quite fathom. After wintering in Botswana, the famous satellite-tagged Manipur Amur Falcon, Chiuluan2,has taken off on his return https://t.co/GIZPglAcY9 pic.twitter.com/FuR9i9fLyW— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) April 26, 2025advertisement
The study aims to shed light on the migration routes and challenges faced by Amur falcons, which undertake one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom-spanning nearly 20,000 kilometres annually between their breeding grounds in Siberia, northern China, and Mongolia, and their wintering sites in southern Africa.After wintering in Botswana, Chiuluan2 began his return journey in early April, reaching Somalia as the first major stopover.From there, he embarked on the perilous, non-stop flight over the Arabian Sea, navigating by the stars, sun, wind, and innate instinct-without any modern navigational tools.The bird's flight path, tracked in real time, amazed scientists and wildlife enthusiasts alike, as he maintained an average speed of nearly 41 km/h over open ocean without rest.
It is part of a satellite-tagging study conducted by the Manipur Forest Department, WII, and local communities. (Photo: Getty)
advertisementNortheast India, especially Manipur and Nagaland, serves as a critical refuelling stop for thousands of Amur falcons each year. Here, the birds rest and feed before continuing their journey northward.The satellite-tagging initiative, launched in 2018, has provided crucial insights into the birds' migratory behaviour and has helped foster local conservation efforts.Chiuluan2's successful crossing shows not only the extraordinary stamina of Amur falcons but also the importance of international cooperation in protecting migratory species.
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