In a first for Manipur, the elusive Eurasian Curlew, also known as the Common Curlew scientifically identified as Numenius arquata (Linnaeus, 1758), has been sighted and photographed for the first time.
The remarkable discovery took place at Lamphelpat, a vital wetland nestled in Imphal West, by Irom Lawrence, a dedicated member of Wildlife Explorer Manipur.
The Eurasian Curlew’s appearance marks a significant milestone, as it had only been previously sighted in certain parts of Keibul Lamjao back in 2001. Lawrence’s keen observation on April 3, 2024, around 4 pm, led to the first-ever photographic documentation of this majestic bird in Manipur.
Highlighting the importance of this find, Elangbam Premjit, the secretary of Wildlife Explorer Manipur, emphasized the concerning decline in the population of Eurasian Curlews, now classified as Near Threatened (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Premjit urged authorities to designate the Lamphelpat wetland as an Important Bird Area (IBA), given its significance as a habitat for various rare bird species.
