The ancient sport of Falconry still thrives all over the world
Falconry is a very interesting sport that has ancient origins. It is basically a sport that uses a highly trained bird of prey to hunt small animals. It is similar to other hunting sports like fox hunting and hunting using
guns and traps. The sport has a history that stretches back many centuries and is still very popular all over the world. It can be found in America, Europe and even the Middle East. But, with the growing popularity of the sport also come issues of animal cruelty
(regarding deadly falcon’s prey) and also whether falconry can actually be constituted as a sport.
The history of this practice goes back many centuries. There is an ongoing dispute about the sport’s origin, with some people claiming that it started in ancient Mesopotamia, while others claim that it emerged in the Far
East. Wherever it originated form, it was brought into Europe around 400AD when it was brought along with the invading Huns. The sport of falconry has always been associated with nobility and the rich of society, primarily because it is very expensive to care
for a bird of prey and also because hunting has been a regal practice since it started.
The modern version of the sport first came to America in 1934 and the first falconry club was set up to engage in the sport. It was probably around this time that the sport entered its modern era in Europe as well. The sport
continued to gain in popularity over the next few decades and a falcon conservation project was started to preserve the dwindling number of the birds of prey from going extinct. The sport is also popular in the Middle East and can be seen in countries such
as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
There are several different birds that are used in the sport and the sport is still referred to as falconry no matter what type of bird of prey is used. The most common types of birds that are used are Falcons, Eagles, Buzzards
and Hawks. It seems to be that these types of birds are the easiest to train and are the easiest to hunt with. Over the years, many other birds have been experimented with as a new form of falconry. These interesting birds can be ospreys, sea eagles and even
owls. This has seen the sport go in a new and interestingly different direction to the practice that has been around for centuries.
In the US, falconry is allowed in all States except for Hawaii and the District of Columbia but a special permit is required to legally partake in the sport. In comparison, the UK allows falconry in all its forms without
a license. The sport is very popular in Arabia and is part of the area’s culture and heritage. The UAE spends more than $20 million every year on this sport. The sport is also very popular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan where huge eagles are used to hunt prey
as big as wolves. In Australia, the sport is not illegal as such but there are very strict permit rules and it is difficult to partake in the sport in the country.
A lot of people think that the sport can also be considered a form of animal cruelty for several reasons. Firstly falcons, eagles and other birds that are used are wild birds of prey and they are not meant to be kept in captivity.
Others also feel that using birds of prey to hunt small animals as sport is cruel and unfair to the prey. Despite these factors the sport continues to be very popular all over the world and will probably stay that way for some time to come.
Falconry is an example of an ancient sport that has survived for a very long period of time and will probably be around for many more years still. Maybe animal rights activists will shut it down or maybe the sport will continue
as it has for so many years. Whichever way we look at it, the sport has the ability to transcend cultures and borders and be accepted in many different parts of the world, just as it has in the past.
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