Valley of Death at Jatinga

Jatinga Bird Suicide - A mysterious phenomenon

Jatinga is a small village on a ridge of Dima Hasao district (D.H.D), in the North eastern state of India, Assam. It is a very beautiful place with scenic beauty surrounded by mountains. This damsel like beautiful is commonly known as Valley Of Death Of Birds. This village is a place of mystry for the phenomenon of suicide of birds who come in droves and meet their ends here. Many ornithologists to research about that phenomenon but yet none has been able to explain the cause of this incident conclusively.

The Mysterious Phenomenon

In early 1900 this was first observed by the native tribe Zeme Nagas. it frightened them as they believed that it is the evil spirit who is behind that. And being afraid they migrated selling their land to Jaintias in 1905. The new dwellers interpreted this phenomenon as a gift from God.

No body knows why this thing happens. Is it a natural phenomenon or anything else!. But this mysterious thing is an annual event of birds, not only locals but migratory birds are also included in it that commit mass suicide. As has been observed over century this thing happens during late monsoon months, from September to November, when mist and fog cover this area like a veil on moonless dark nights between 07-10 p.m with the south-western wind.

Jatinga Bird Suicide

On such a night, hundreds of birds descend on the village and fly towards buildings and trees, crash with them and commit suicide. But what is curious that the birds are not attracted to the entire Jatinga ridge. It is restricted only to a small area of 1500 by 200 meters. Since birds are not known to be suicidal , the phenomenon has baffled villagers, visitors and scientists. Studies also show that the birds come in only from North. Lights placed along the southern side of the village have failed to attract birds. The victim birds are not long distance migrators. 44 species have been identified and most of them come from near by valleys. These include Kingfishers, Black Bittern, Tiger Bittern , Pond Heron

Probable cause indicated by scientists

A number of theories have been proposed to unravel the cause behind this phenomenon.

According to some scientists and ornithologists most of the birds that come to suicide lose their natural habitats due to flooding during monsoon season season. So they appear to be migrating to another place and Jatinga is in their migratory path. But scientists are puzzled about the thing that why these birds fly at night or why the get trapped voluntarily at the same place every year.

Some suggesting that the combination of high wind and fog leads disorients the birdsand they are attracted by the light of the village.

Another theory says that the weather of the region leads to 'Change in the magnetic quality of the underground water' causing the disoriented state.

Jatinga Bird Suicide

Real reason behind this Jatinga bird's suicide phenomenon is not yet confirmed as there are different reason cited by the scientists. And it is worth mention that Jatinga is not the only place in the world where such type of incident noticed. This phenomenon is also been noticed in Philippines, Malaysia and another state of India, Mizoram.

Anwaruddin Chowdhury, a well known ornithologist of Assam said that " It is not suicide to be precise. But the fact remains that birds are attracted by light and fly towards any object with a light source. This phenomenon still puzzles bird specialists ".

Late Salim Ali, India's most renounced ornithologist was also puzzled. He said that " The most puzzling thing to me about this phenomenon is that so many species of diurnal resident birds should be on the move when , by definition , they should be fast asleep. The problem deserves a deeper scientific study from various angles ".

Next : Chupir Char : Kasthashali-Home of Water Birds