How to Restart Falconry in India

Thanks to Munir Virani visiting me during November 2024, reaching from Abu Dhabi. As we talked, I learned about his work (as Chief Executive) at the Raptor Conservation Fund (RCF). Our interesting discussion led me subsequently to delve deep into falconry records for India.

The US Blog: What chance to stumble against a blog on Indian falconry done by a US student, Michael Skvarla, at the University of Arkansas. To my utter surprise I found photographs of Dharmakumarsinh ji, a renowned Indian wildlife expert, in Michael’s blog. In one frame, Dharma is holding in his hands a “Lugger” (Laggar falcon: Falco jugger). Frank and John Craighead, two brothers from USA who were his guests at Bhavnagar, held in their hands Saker falcons (Falco cherrug). All three can be seen (in the photo reproduced here) attired in traditional ‘achkan” and “churidaar” royal dresses. (Frank donned Jodhpurs.)

Another frame inserted by Michael shows Dharma swinging a lure at the end of a short stick as the male Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), called as tercel, stoops to nibble the bait. After about 40- 50 attempts, the falcon is permitted to strike and bring the lure to the ground. The falcon is then hooded and fed. The photographs are courtesy National Geographic (February 1944) as stated by Michael.

Cache of details: Michael states: “It is also interesting to see how historic falconry in India differs from historic and modern falconry in America. For instance, the Craigheads mention catching kites and owls with their birds in India. Other birds of prey were not historically hunted for falconry in America (at least, not that I am aware), and they are protected now. The Indians also employed a classical method of manning in which the bird was carried on the fist for days at a time. Handlers took shifts during the day and night and in this way the birds were tamed in a few days instead of a few weeks as they are with less intensive methods.

“Bapa (Dharma) had his trappers catch or buy many species, including peregrines, lugger falcons, sparrow hawks, goshawks, saker falcons, and shahins (shaheen, a subspecies of peregrine). The Craigheads wrote of eagles being trapped but never mention if these were trained for falconry or not. Frank, John, Bapa, and Bapa’s trainers flew all these birds. Game was apparently very abundant as many birds would be cycled through each day.”

Dharma as lone expert: Dharmakumarsinh ji (April 1917 – January 1986) was the prince of Bhavnagar State in India’s Gujarat State. He was a great expert on wildlife and probably the only prince who sported falcons and supported falconry in all its disciplines. In 1950, the Government of India appointed him to conduct bio-geographical surveys across the Indian States – Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab – and make recommendations on areas suitable for conversion into designated national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Over the next three decades, he held several conservation-related government positions in India. He served as India's first Honorary Wildlife Warden, Vice Chairman of the Indian Board for Wildlife, and a member of the Rajasthan and Gujarat Wildlife Advisory Boards.

My association with Dharma began in 1978-79 when we shared the same table at the Rajasthan State Wildlife Advisory Board. One evening he asked me about the falconry forays in India by Arab royalty using falcons to hunt Bustards. My explanation lured him in to an understanding that culminated in holding first ever International Symposium on Bustards (1, 2 and 3 November 1980 at Jaipur). We spent considerable time in the field as well as in the symposium sessions. I learnt a great deal from Dharma’s ever-giving-away attitudes. Falconry started thousands of years ago though exact records are difficult to find. It gained immense popularity through the Emirs in Middle East during seventh century. The Mughals in India took it to heights. Britain popularized it. The North American Falconers Association (NAFA) was founded in 1961 to encourage it as a sport and enforce the wise use and conservation of birds of prey. NAFA has grown to a membership today of approximately 2,000. It gladly accepts members from all countries who share the common passion of birds of prey and falconry.

UNESCO’s decision for falconry: UNESCO has accorded a new global recognition to falconry: “Falconry be treated as a living human heritage (listed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO).”

Is UNESCO’s decision a pointer to India where this practice was in vogue in ancient times, it finds mention in Sanskrit language. Falconry is not a museum piece. It is alive. We should practise, enjoy, and promote it as precious embodiments of world cultural history. Time to start research into the social history of falconry and create better future for birds of prey. Abu Dhabi’s examples are shining for entire world. When we talked, Munir told me that the Raptor Conservation Fund (RCF) was established to develop solutions to key global challenges facing raptors. The Fund was founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. What utmost satisfaction to know from Munir that nearly 95% Falcon mortalities have been stopped across Mongolia by installing new devices over electric poles in that country! RCF is in action. The RCF’s knowledge and expertise deserves to be introduced in the Thar Desert landscape in India where bird mortalities are on increase from new electric lines drawn following the expansion of solar and wind energy in recent years. The new lines are causing mortality to Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) as well, the critically endangered species at IUCN. Permit me to touch upon this sorry state of decisions in my next narrative.

India’s leadership to take a call: India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will hopefully be glad to know that a world-renowned falconry expert hails from the Prime Minister’s home State of Gujarat: Dharmakumarsinh ji. Modi has displayed exemplary leadership introducing African Cheetahs in India’s Kuno National Park (17 September 2022). A humble appeal is being made to the Prime Minister to let falconry be allowed as a new initiative to enable improve status of raptor species which are facing precarious future. The Abu Dhabi based RCF will be too happy to lend its support as India enjoys excellent rapport with the Emirates in the Gulf region.

Harsh Vardhan

A Volunteer at TWSI (indianbirdfair1@gmail.com)