ABU DHABI // UAE falconers say that animal conservation is just as much on their minds as the hunt when they are enjoying the nation’s traditional bloodsport.
In training falcons, the birds are required to hunt live prey in the form of the endangered houbara bustard, but this occurs once or twice a year, they said.
A recent survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi-based International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) found that, despite popular belief to the contrary, falconers who hunted with their birds were highly concerned with the environment and dwindling animal populations.
According to the survey, less than a third – 31 per cent – of respondents were conscious of the number of houbara they hunted, but 88 per cent were concerned by the status of the houbara as a vulnerable species.
More than 250 falconers were included in the survey, including 177 from the UAE.
Rashid Al Hameli, a 32-year-old Emirati, said that the environment was the most important aspect of his lifestyle as a falconer; sustainable hunting was traditionally the way he learnt to break in his birds. “Balance in nature is something that is so important, and to see it disappearing – as someone who spends so much time outdoors – is something truly saddening,” he said.
A Ministry of Presidential Affairs official said that an average falcon in training needed live bait and the preferred animal was the houbara.
He noted that only two kills a year were needed for a falcon to keep its instincts honed.
“This bird [the houbara] is so important for us as falconers, that it is in fact directly related to the continuation of our pastime,” Mr Al Hameli said.
“You have to remember that it is not only just a bird for us, or bait, this is a national treasure.”
While growing up and pursuing falconry, Mr Al Hameli said he never really worried about the houbara population as the birds were abundant, something which made the presence of the IFHC almost seem unnecessary to him.
It was not until he grew up and began to become more competitive in the sport that he realised the sharp decline in the birds’ population.
“We never saw it as a need but then you find that you see less of the bird and you realise that the vision of Sheikh Zayed was correct, and that the IFHC is doing great work,” he said.
The IFHC regularly holds seminars, creates initiatives and conducts research on the topic.
According to a recent survey, 6,000 houbara were released into the wild this year following a UAE breeding programme. Houbara, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list, are classified as a vulnerable species as their numbers had fallen through hunting.
Globally, the IFHC’s conservation programme has bred more than 48,000 of the birds this year as part of its initiative to restore wild houbara populations worldwide.
Last year, 46,000 were bred.
“It’s up to us to bring to them the real meaning of sustainable hunting,” said Mohammed Al Baidani, IFHC director general.
The organisation, he said, explained to its members how to hunt sustainably, such as telling them about where the houbara distribution was and advising them to stop hunting during certain birds’ breeding seasons.
“Also, we must explain to them that using the traditional forms of hunting that is in fact the most sustainable way,” he said.
According to the survey, 94 per cent of the falconers believed that maintaining traditions was essential to their passion.
A relative of Mr Al Hameli, who wished to remain unnamed, expressed the same sentiment.
“When you are living in the city, working in the office, and your free time is spent inside, you don’t really care,” he said.
“We are the ones who care the most. This is, for us, our happiness. So for me, the houbara, and making sure the environment is in a good state, is one of my priorities.”
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
