Jatinga, a small village in the North-Eastern state of Assam is situated on the edge of Halflong, the head quarters of Dima Hasao district. Nestled by lush greenery, serene hills and natural beauty, it is mainly inhabited by the Jayantia tribe. The village is not famous for its natural beauty but for an altogether different reason - the “mass suicide of birds”. It is an unresolved mystery which created curiosity in the minds of many ornithologists across the globe. It is true that the World is filled with mysterious phenomenons that are yet to be solved and this phenomenon of “birds committing suicide” in the village of Jatinga is such an unsolved mystery. Over 100 years, birds have been flying to this region and have flown to mysterious death.
Jatinga was earlier inhabited by Zeme Nagas and they were the ones who first discovered it. They found that hundreds of birds were attracted toward the camp fire and died falling from the high skies into the fire. They were extremely scared thinking that it was an act of the “evil spirits” from the sky and soon sold off the land to the Jayantias and vacated it. Jayantias who started living in the region during 1905 came across this mysterious phenomenon and they believed it to be “gifts of God”. For many years, locals believed that evil spirits living in the skies were responsible for bringing down the birds.
Jatinga was earlier inhabited by Zeme Nagas and they were the ones who first discovered it. They found that hundreds of birds were attracted toward the camp fire and died falling from the high skies into the fire. They were extremely scared thinking that it was an act of the “evil spirits” from the sky and soon sold off the land to the Jayantias and vacated it. Jayantias who started living in the region during 1905 came across this mysterious phenomenon and they believed it to be “gifts of God”. For many years, locals believed that evil spirits living in the skies were responsible for bringing down the birds.
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| Bird Suicide Phenomenon, Jatinga |
Often referred to as the Valley of Death for Birds, every year, after the end of monsoon season, generally between the months of September and October about 44 species of bird in Jatinga suddenly becomes disturbed between 7 pm – 10 pm on moonless nights. For mysterious reasons, they become disoriented and flies toward lights that are lit in the village and fall prey of the local tribes that inhabit the area. Since birds aren’t known to be suicidal, the phenomenon has bewildered villagers, visitors and scientists alike. Many varied explanations have been given to prove the phenomenon. According to some, they get disoriented by the monsoon fog and moves towards light sources, which dazzle them and get blinded, subsequently hitting themselves in tree and buildings. Some also believes that they are killed by the local tribes that inhabit the village. The phenomenon has attracted many scientists and ornithologists across the globe and after conducting a number of scientific experiments, they have come to a conclusion that the birds are generally disoriented by the monsoon fog and get attracted by the village lights, flying toward them. While on their way they get blinded by the light, sometimes hitting walls and trees during the plunge. Some of the birds succumb to severe injury, while others are grievously injured and become easy prey of the villagers. These birds become bemused and scruffy, and do not put up any resistance when villagers attack them with slings or bamboo sticks.
Different studies and experiments conducted by scientists and ornithologists have shown that birds come only from the North and the lights that have been placed along the southern side of the village have never attracted any bird. Another interesting fact is that the migratory birds from a long-distance does not fall prey of this mysterious phenomenon and only 44 species of both local and migratory birds, such as Black Bitterns, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, Ruddy Kingfisher, Little Egret, Tiger Bittern, Indian Pitta, Indian Pond Heron and Chinese Pond Heron to name a few fall victim of this social phenomenon. It is still not clear why the birds fly at night, and why they always get voluntarily ensnared at the same place while migrating to other places during monsoon flood. Although, a number of ornithologists have said that it is not suicide but they are still very puzzled with the phenomenon.
Jatinga has gained immense popularity across the globe for this mysterious phenomenon and in order to promote tourism to the place, Government of Assam’s tourism department in collaboration with district authorities organizes a festival named Jatinga Festival during the time when the birds commit suicide. It first started in the year 2010 and today, many accommodation options have also come up to facilitate the visitors during the time of festival. Today, the village of about 2,500 people has become one of the favorite tourist destinations of Assam.
Different studies and experiments conducted by scientists and ornithologists have shown that birds come only from the North and the lights that have been placed along the southern side of the village have never attracted any bird. Another interesting fact is that the migratory birds from a long-distance does not fall prey of this mysterious phenomenon and only 44 species of both local and migratory birds, such as Black Bitterns, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, Ruddy Kingfisher, Little Egret, Tiger Bittern, Indian Pitta, Indian Pond Heron and Chinese Pond Heron to name a few fall victim of this social phenomenon. It is still not clear why the birds fly at night, and why they always get voluntarily ensnared at the same place while migrating to other places during monsoon flood. Although, a number of ornithologists have said that it is not suicide but they are still very puzzled with the phenomenon.
Jatinga has gained immense popularity across the globe for this mysterious phenomenon and in order to promote tourism to the place, Government of Assam’s tourism department in collaboration with district authorities organizes a festival named Jatinga Festival during the time when the birds commit suicide. It first started in the year 2010 and today, many accommodation options have also come up to facilitate the visitors during the time of festival. Today, the village of about 2,500 people has become one of the favorite tourist destinations of Assam.
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