Falconry |
|
|
From September to November, falcons cross, together with other birds, the Arabic Peninsula on route to the warmer areas of Eastern and Northern Africa. In the past, Bedouins using various trapping methods caught hundreds of falcons. Then, the falcons were quickly trained to be used for hunting prey. The prey usually included birds such as the houbara bustard and stone curlew that subsequently were passing the region. Local hares were also hunted. After the hunting season, the falcons were released back into the wild. Falconry was not a sport but a way of providing food for the family. Three main types of falcon used for hunting are the peregrine, saker and the gyr. Interestingly, female falcons are considered better hunters.
Today, falconry is practiced as a sport and it is a popular traditional pastime in the country. A number of falconry competitions are organized annually to select the best hunter as well as the most beautiful bird. Most falconers buy their birds, paying as much as tens of thousands of US dollars for one bird. To help to reduce the illegal trade in the species, the falcons in the UAE are registered and given identification numbers.
Falconry, which was present in the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years, continues to be seen as an integral part of the Arabic lifestyle and tradition. This tradition is valued so highly that the UAE government is making an effort to register falconry as an intangible cultural heritage at UNESCO. However, the numbers of falcons, as well as game, have declined in the recent decades, mainly due to over trapping and overhunting. It is now understood that the regulations to protect both falcons and quarry are essential in order for this tradition to exist, and for nature to survive. Several programs, supported by the government, have been initiated to study, breed and preserve birdlife in the UAE. |
 |