We were driving past Wild Wadi the other day when my son (D) started jumping up and down asking the driver to speed up and catch up with the Prado ahead of us. Once he managed to get past the "quick, drive fast" we figured that he had sighted 2 falcons in the Prado and wanted a closer look. We did draw close once to get a fleeting look at two absolutely magnificent beasts!
Actually shouldn't have been surprised. Falconry has been long associated with the Arabs of the Middle East with evidence suggesting that it originated in Mesopotamia and Mongolia. In Egypt, for example, since Pharonic times, falcons have been worshipped as a form of the greatest cosmic power, culminating in the form of Horus, the best known Pharonic deity.
Historically falconry has been a symbol of status and prosperity, so it should come as no surprise that the rulers of the Emirates should indulge in this as a sport. Falconry was largely restricted to the noble classes due to the prerequisite commitment of time, money, and space. However amongst the Bedouin societies, falconry was not just the preserve of noblemen, falcons were trapped and hunted on small game during the winter months in order to supplement a very limited diet, and, in that sense falconry is a big part of the Arab's cultural heritage.
Have an uncle who is one of the few doctors in the world who is a specialist in falconry and he happens to be based in Dubai. In course of conversations, one evening he mentioned that before the advent of oil led development, when the area was still nomadic, hunting expeditions with the falcons served as a means of "touring" the far lying areas of the kingdom! After a day of hunting, a dessert majlis in the evening would allow the locals in that area to air their grievances or put forward their requirements. Understandably, both Sheikh Zayed & Sheikh Mohammed, show great concern and commitment to preserving this sport as a part of their heritage.
While in UAE, the falcons essentially hunt the MacQueen's bustard, houbara, or hare, in a famous hunt in 2003, a falcon owned by Sheikh Mohammed brought down a deer many times its own weight!
We were keen to see the birds at close quarters and he volunteered to show us some of the birds that were recuperating. They occasionally get hurt during the hunt and need to be treated. They are kept in individual rooms, with a leather hood covering the eyes and teethers around the ankles. He switched on the light and the bird fluttered around, in panic I suspect, cos it can't see. They give you a leather glove with a long sleeve which you wear and pull the teether till the bird perches on your hand.
He offered to let us try holding the bird, but the first time is a bit of a frightening experience cos the bird flaps around till it finds the familiarity of the leather sleeve. When it flaps its wing, you can feel a strong wind that is indicative of the power that the bird packs, and even when it flies around in the limited space, you can see how majestic the bird is!
But what was amazing, was the bond between my uncle and the bird. To see a bird of prey, majestic and fearsome, nuzzle a hand that it knows, rises to heal it - it was humbling!
Though I must admit, for a moment I did think it is a tad cruel to the falcons to keep them in captivity. If you read about how the birds are trained, I'd hate to be in the birds' shoes / claws! However, thankfully now, Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Project is responsible for returning falcons to the wild at the end of the annual hunting season. The birds are fed, their weight increased, they're exercised and everything is done to ensure that they are at their fittest when they are released in the wild.
It was indeed awesome to see the birds at such close quarters and the next time, maybe D will also have gathered enough courage to have the falcon perch on his hand!
For events / interest in falconry
International Festival of Falconry
Shaheen Xtreme
Arab Hunter
Actually shouldn't have been surprised. Falconry has been long associated with the Arabs of the Middle East with evidence suggesting that it originated in Mesopotamia and Mongolia. In Egypt, for example, since Pharonic times, falcons have been worshipped as a form of the greatest cosmic power, culminating in the form of Horus, the best known Pharonic deity.
Historically falconry has been a symbol of status and prosperity, so it should come as no surprise that the rulers of the Emirates should indulge in this as a sport. Falconry was largely restricted to the noble classes due to the prerequisite commitment of time, money, and space. However amongst the Bedouin societies, falconry was not just the preserve of noblemen, falcons were trapped and hunted on small game during the winter months in order to supplement a very limited diet, and, in that sense falconry is a big part of the Arab's cultural heritage.
Have an uncle who is one of the few doctors in the world who is a specialist in falconry and he happens to be based in Dubai. In course of conversations, one evening he mentioned that before the advent of oil led development, when the area was still nomadic, hunting expeditions with the falcons served as a means of "touring" the far lying areas of the kingdom! After a day of hunting, a dessert majlis in the evening would allow the locals in that area to air their grievances or put forward their requirements. Understandably, both Sheikh Zayed & Sheikh Mohammed, show great concern and commitment to preserving this sport as a part of their heritage.
While in UAE, the falcons essentially hunt the MacQueen's bustard, houbara, or hare, in a famous hunt in 2003, a falcon owned by Sheikh Mohammed brought down a deer many times its own weight!
We were keen to see the birds at close quarters and he volunteered to show us some of the birds that were recuperating. They occasionally get hurt during the hunt and need to be treated. They are kept in individual rooms, with a leather hood covering the eyes and teethers around the ankles. He switched on the light and the bird fluttered around, in panic I suspect, cos it can't see. They give you a leather glove with a long sleeve which you wear and pull the teether till the bird perches on your hand.
He offered to let us try holding the bird, but the first time is a bit of a frightening experience cos the bird flaps around till it finds the familiarity of the leather sleeve. When it flaps its wing, you can feel a strong wind that is indicative of the power that the bird packs, and even when it flies around in the limited space, you can see how majestic the bird is!
But what was amazing, was the bond between my uncle and the bird. To see a bird of prey, majestic and fearsome, nuzzle a hand that it knows, rises to heal it - it was humbling!
Though I must admit, for a moment I did think it is a tad cruel to the falcons to keep them in captivity. If you read about how the birds are trained, I'd hate to be in the birds' shoes / claws! However, thankfully now, Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Project is responsible for returning falcons to the wild at the end of the annual hunting season. The birds are fed, their weight increased, they're exercised and everything is done to ensure that they are at their fittest when they are released in the wild.
It was indeed awesome to see the birds at such close quarters and the next time, maybe D will also have gathered enough courage to have the falcon perch on his hand!
For events / interest in falconry
International Festival of Falconry
Shaheen Xtreme
Arab Hunter
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