55 falcons released in Chitral
It was time for freedom. After spending years in captivity, 55 falcons were sent to Pakistan where they were released in the wild, in the northern Himalayan plateaus of Chitral and Gilgit.
Their journey to freedom started nearly a year ago, when the birds were brought to the Falcon Hospital in Abu Dhabi for medical care and rehabilitation.
After that they were shifted to a training camp near Swaihan, in the heart of the desert.
Ten local Bedouin trainers were tasked with getting the falcons fit. For, only fit and healthy falcons can survive their freedom, especially if they’ve been in captivity.
Says Abdul Aziz Hassan Al Hamoudi, one of the Bedouin trainers: “For nearly five years I have been training falcons either to be released back into the wild or for hunting purposes.”
Abdul Aziz learned the skills of training from his colleagues, some of whom have been in this ‘business’ for as long as 15 years.
He was also groomed by his uncle and cousins, who take care of the falcons of General Shaikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
"One of the most difficult things about falcon training is getting the birds used to people.
For this reason, in the first 20 days we spend up to 20 hours daily with the falcons, sometimes even sleeping with them.
When we get tired, someone else from the family takes over.
“It’s also important that the falcon gets used to the trainer’s voice, so we usually speak with him,” explains Abdul Aziz.
Just like camels, horses and dogs, the falcons too are given a name, which can be a man’s name like Mansour or a typical falcon name like Jarah (meaning strong fighter), Aghab (a Bedouin name for falcon) or Falah (meaning very successful).
“Then, in case he flies away, which can happen quite often, we shout out his name and the falcon returns, as he recognises both the voice of the trainer and the sound of his name,” says Abdul Aziz.
To make sure of the bird’s return, trainers also use a rope with the falcon’s feathers, which they spin into the air to attract attention.
“Falcons have very good eyesight and hearing - they can see over a distance of 3km and hear from 1km away,” points out Abdul Aziz.
Another technique to ‘tame’ the falcon is to get him tired. “Falcons are very proud birds and they don’t like to be controlled, so in order to make them listen to us, we keep them awake for four-five days,” he informs. After the falcon and the trainer get used to each other, the second phase of training starts - to develop the bird’s strength and hunting abilities.
“We do this by reducing the falcon’s meals and tempting it with live birds, such as pigeons, which we tie at a small distance from the falcon at first; then we will gradually increase the distance. When the falcon catches his first prey without any aid, it means he is ready for hunting, and for his freedom as well,” explains Abdul Aziz.
At the same time, a five-hour flying regimen starts for the bird, split between mornings and afternoons, meant to increase the strength of his wings and chest, so vital during hunting and the long flying hours in the migration seasons.
Recently, 55 falcons at the Swaihan camp in the capital completed their training successfully, and on May 7, they started a one-week preparation for their last journey in captivity. “These birds are part of our Falcon Release Programme, which was introduced 12 years ago by the late Sheikh Zayed,” says Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller, director of the Falcon Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
The programme is meant to protect the wild peregrine and saker falcons, which are endangered species, by forbidding their capture and use in hunting. Instead, farm-bred falcons are used for the purpose.
Still, many wild falcons are captured and sold illegally, but when caught, the birds are confiscated and sent to the Falcon Hospital for medical care and rehabilitation.
Then, every April or May they are freed in locations such as the Himalayan peaks of Pakistan or in Kazakistan and sometimes, in Iran - places that fall on the annual migration routes of falcons. So far, over 1,000 wild falcons have been released into their natural habitats.
“The falcon has to be 100 per cent healthy and fit to be released back into the wild, otherwise it might not survive. I regularly check the progress of the birds and if there are any that might seem to have the slightest problem, I remove the bird from the group even on the day of departure and keep it until the next year,” points out Dr Muller.
“The falcons seem to know they are going to be free. From the moment we arrive at the airport, they seem to sense something unusual is going on. Then, when the appointed morning comes and we remove the burgha (falcon’s eyes cover) and the rope, he flies right up into the sky, without looking back or, at times, lingering on for a while, looking around and taking it all in very slowly.
Then they fly away. In either case, you can see the wilderness into their eyes - they can sense freedom,” points out Dr. Muller, quite proud of her birds. - Agencies
Re: Falcons released in Pakistan
oh how nice. amazing. but i just hope the falcons can survive the wild home.
best,
Dushwari