Falconry in the United Arab Emirates School Links Programme

An ancient tradition

• During Ancient times, people hunted with birds of prey for food & clothing

• Falconry was practiced in the Middle East some believe as early as 2500BC

• Written evidence of Arabian falconry dates from 700AD

Bedouin and falconry

• Falconry has always been part of traditional Bedouin culture

• The desert people hunted for food in the winter with falcons

• The Bedouin hunted Gazelles, Arabian hare, stone curlews and houbara bustard using falcons

Falcons used by Bedouin• Falcons do not breed in the

Arab states

• Falcons passed through the Arab states on their migration to Africa

• Some falcons were trapped while flying through the region

• Some falcons were trapped in Asia and traded with the Bedouin

• The saker falcon and peregrine falcon were most commonly used by Bedouin falconers

Houbara bustard

• Houbara bustard also migrated through the deserts of Arabia in the past

• Bedouin elders would send word that the houbara had arrived

• The annual event brought local people together.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

• Sheikh Zayed transformed the UAE from a semi nomadic nation to a developed nation

• Sheikh Zayed spent his youth with the Bedouin and was a keen falconer

• UAE coat of arms is a golden falcon

Decline of quarry• All terrain vehicles

meant that falconers could travel further into the desert

• This led to overhunting

• Stone curlew, hare and houbara bustard numbers declined

Falconry in UAE today

• Falconry is a part of UAE’s cultural heritage

• It is a popular sport among Emiratis and is practiced by all sectors of society

• It is a tradition that has survived to modern times

• Falconry is celebrated and used to bring nations together

Captive bred falcons• Many Emirati falconers buy captive

bred falcons

• Captive breed falcons reduce the need to catch birds from the wild

• White gyr falcons are the most favoured

• Gyr- peregrine is a hybrid falcon and is also popular

• 96% of all falcons used in Abu Dhabi are captive-bred birds.

• Since 2003, UAE falcon owners can travel abroad with their falcons using a special falcon passport

AcknowledgementsMany thanks to the following artists, photographers and falconers for images and text used in this PowerPoint :

• Andrew Lopez Sanchez• Tom Bailey• Rob Palmer• Andrew Lopez Peinado• Chris Johnson• Linda Wright

Funded by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and supported by Mongolian Ministry of Nature Environment and Tourism. Implemented by International Wildlife Consultants , UK and Wildlife and Conservation Center, Mongolia