Since the creation of the Doyang Reservoir in 2000, the Amur Falcon has used the surrounding forests of Nagaland as a vital stopover during its migration from Siberia to southern Africa.
By 2010, that seasonal gathering had become a crisis. Tens of thousands of falcons were being trapped and killed near Pangti village each year. Estimates suggested as many as 120,000 birds were slaughtered annually — one of the largest recorded raptor hunts in recent history.
A Turning Point
In 2012, while researching bird species for an early feather-inspired design, Ipakshi’s founder encountered reports of the killings. Having spent her formative years in India, the story felt immediate rather than distant.
That same year, conservation efforts intensified.
BirdLife International, working alongside the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and local partners, began sustained engagement with village councils and community leaders. The objective was clear: make protection more viable than hunting.
Community-Led Protection
Change emerged from within.
Village councils outlawed falcon hunting and introduced fines. Youth eco-clubs were established. Local conservation groups, including the Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust, helped coordinate patrols under the banner Friends of the Amur Falcon.
Faith leaders reinforced the shift, referencing biblical prohibitions against consuming birds of prey. With government backing and local cooperation, large-scale hunting ceased.
A Different Economy
As protection took hold, eco-tourism followed. Visitors arrived to witness one of the world’s most extraordinary migration spectacles. Income once derived from hunting began to shift toward guiding and hospitality.
The falcons became an asset to preserve rather than exploit.
Recent migration seasons have recorded no mass killings.
Nagaland has since expanded its conservation ambitions, investing in broader biodiversity documentation and ecological stewardship initiatives. What began as crisis response has evolved into long-term environmental responsibility.
Why It Matters
The recovery of the Amur Falcon in Nagaland is not simply a conservation success. It is a demonstration of what becomes possible when local communities, conservation organisations, and government act in alignment.
For Ipakshi, this moment marked a shift in perspective. Birds were no longer aesthetic inspiration alone. They became a reminder that beauty carries obligation.
Migration continues. So must stewardship.