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Falconry is defined as the
art of hunting wild quarry with trained birds of prey. Although
the exact origin of the sport is shrouded in mystery, there are
reliable records proving that it has been practiced
uninterruptedly by the people of Arabia for at least eighteen
centuries. Today falconry forms a very important part of the
cultural heritage of the Arab people and this is evident in the
fact that the UAE chose the falcon as its national emblem.
Falcons, like many other bird
species, use the Arabian Peninsula as a land bridge on their
annual migration between Asia and Africa. The ancient Bedouin
tribes took advantage of this fact by utilizing falcons as
hunting tools to provide meat for their families during the
winter months. Usually a young falcon (“farkh”) on its first
migration south was trapped in early autumn. It was used for
hunting during the winter months and at the end of the hunting
season the falcon was released in a fit and healthy condition to
join the spring migration back to its Asian breeding grounds.
Very seldom was a bird kept throughout summer, since it was very
difficult to feed it and care for it during the extremely hot
summer season.
Of the many different species
available, only two were used for hunting. The Saker falcon (“saqr”),
with its flexible feathers, hardy constitution and incredible
endurance was the undisputed favorite. The large females (“Hurr”)
were used to hunt desert hare and the highly prized McQueen’s
Bustard (“Houbara”). The smaller male saker (“garmousha”) with
its higher agility was flown at the agile Stone Curlew (“Karowan”).
Some preferred the Peregrine falcon for its blistering speed and
uncompromising aggression. The female (“Shaheen”) was the bird
of choice, but the smaller tiercel or male (“Tibba”), was also
flown with great success.
When a young falcon is
trapped, the training process commences immediately. There are a
number of distinct phases in the new falcon’s training. The bird
is fitted with a hood (“burka”) that acts as a blindfold to
reduce stress, and anklets are fitted around the feet to give
the falconer a measure of control. For the first few days the
wild young falcon is carried around everywhere and gradually
exposed to humans, other animals and things that might cause it
to be fearful. This process of desensitizing the bird to
stressful situations is paramount in the training process, and
Arab falconers still today are world famous for their almost
magical ability to tame a wild falcon. The next step is creating
a bond between bird and human. Since falcons are almost
exclusively food motivated, the new bird is only fed on the
falconer’s glove and soon comes to associate the falconer as a
reliable source of food. The falcon is then required to approach
the falconer for food. Some falconers train their birds to fly
short distances to the fist for a reward first, but essentially
the falcon is bird of the lure. The lure (“tilwa”) is the
primary tool for calling a falcon back to the falconer. Usually
the lure consists of the wings of the Houbara bustard or
whichever bird is intended as the eventual quarry. The important
point is that the falcon is rewarded each time it comes to the
lure. Once the bird is responsive to the lure, the bird can be
introduced to live quarry and the hunting season starts in
ernest.
When prey is caught, the
falconer will approach the falcon and usually allow it to feed
from the head and neck of the prey. The bird is given ample food
to satisfy its own requirements, and the remainder of the prey
is retained by the falconer to feed himself and his family. An
interesting fact to note is the method a falcon uses to kill its
prey. They will almost invariably hold onto the prey with their
feet, while dispatching it by biting through the neck. This is
why it is considered acceptable for Muslims to eat meat provided
by a falcon, since the killing method conforms to their
religious beliefs.
Over the last few decades the
UAE has changed rapidly from nomadic desert existence, fishing
and pearl diving, to an oil-rich country that has become a world
leader in technological development. These changes have had a
dramatic effect on the practice of falconry. Increasing pressure
on wild falcon and quarry populations has given rise to
intensive research into captive breeding techniques. The UAE has
taken the lead with a number of important initiatives in
conservation of falcon and quarry species. Under the leadership
of the late president, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan, a successful release programme of mainly saker falcons
was introduced. Today a number of successful captive breeding
projects of Houbara bustard also exist in the UAE and birds are
fitted with satellite tracking systems to monitor and study
their migration and breeding patterns on the wild.
Numerous falcon breeding
facilities exist in the UAE today. With the aid of artificial
insemination sufficient numbers of captive bred falcons are
produced each year to satisfy the needs of most Emirati
falconers. Gyr x Saker or Gyr x Peregrine hybrid falcons have
become very popular due to their superior size and speed in
level flight. In the veterinary field the UAE is also leading
the way with the establishment of numerous state of the art,
specialist falcon hospitals. These facilities are equipped with
the latest modern technology and enable medical practitioners to
perform complicated procedures on falcons, ranging from full
anesthetic and endoscopy to invasive surgery and treatment of
all microbiological ailments.
In Ras Al Khaimah at the
Banyan Tree Al Wadi resort, a newly established falconry centre
aims to educate visitors on the falconry history of Arabia. They
are conducting introductory falconry courses, a first in the
Middle East, teaching students the principles of bird of prey
husbandry and training. An onsite laboratory and breeding
program also exist with the aim to reintroduce native species
onto the reserve.
In an age
where hunting sports are coming under continuously greater
international pressure from animal rights activists, the UAE is
undoubtedly one of the leading countries in ensuring the long
term survival of falconry, and thereby preserving one of the
most spectacular and culturally significant art forms for the
generations to come.
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