Daily Times

Falconry is the art of catching quarry with trained species of the falcon in a sustainable manner. Hawks, eagles and falcons have been used in falconry since times immemorial. But falconry, prized as a noble art and a great field sport during Mughal rule, has received bad publicity in recent times. A thorough research revealed that the art of falconry existed long before the modern day civilisations. This passion for falconry is found to be as widespread as the human race on earth itself. Falconry, once a symbol of nobleness cherished throughout the world, has become an iniquitous act in the modern era in Pakistan. The critics however, fail to take a more holistic view of the ground reality.

The hunting season is just around the corner with the approaching winter; activities relating to falconry including trade and training of falcons have resumed in the country. Activities resume every year with the arrival of winter when hunting season starts and game birds migrate from Siberia and Eastern Europe. Generally, hunting starts in November and lasts until April. Pakistan, along with adjoining Central Asian states, is a hotbed for hunting through falconry, a practice that has deep roots in the nomadic cultures of the region. The assorted royals of the Persian Gulf states, where the sport is also enmeshed in Arab traditions, happen to be now some of the world’s most avid, enthusiastic falconers.

The interest in dealing with birds of prey and falconry is today more widespread throughout the world than ever before despite the negative publicity on social media. What the naysayers fail to understand is that falconers care about the conservation of birds of prey, which is why they have such a close bond with birds, and why they are able to hunt with them. It is also pertinent to point out the kind of money involved in falconry where prized falcons can cost up to $1 million each and a lucrative trade exists in the snaring and grooming of such remarkable winged hunters. Numerous Emirati, Saudi and Qatari notables and princelings embark on frequent falconry expeditions in the wilds of west and Central Asia.

This passion of falconry also brings Arab royals to Pakistan with their support, which has resulted in the conservation and protection of wildlife, habitats, welfare of the local communities and sponsorship of development projects in the field of education, medical, veterinary and infrastructures for the benefit of Pakistani brethren.