The two satellite-tagged Amur Falcons, Apapang and Alang, have returned to Manipur after travelling across 23 countries in Asia and Africa, marking the successful completion of their nearly year-long tracking journey. In a social media post, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that the birds arrived in Manipur yesterday, 11 days after departing from their breeding grounds in northeastern China. He noted that the two falcons were tagged by scientists of the Wildlife Institute of India in November 2025.

Akashvani Correspondent reports that the return of the Amur falcons marks the completion of a round-trip migration journey, highlighting the remarkable long-distance movements of the migratory birds. The falcons are now expected to spend two to three weeks at select stopover sites in the mountainous areas of Tamenglong district in Manipur. During this period, they will feed on termites and build up essential fat reserves for their next migratory leg. From Manipur, the birds are expected to undertake a six-day non-stop flight of nearly six thousand kilometres to Somalia, including a challenging three thousand kilometre crossing of the Arabian Sea. The annual arrival of the Amur Falcons is eagerly awaited by local communities in Manipur, who have played a significant role in protecting the migratory birds.