Pesticides pose threat to falcons' existence, warns expert

Al Ain: Agricultural pesticides have been playing a leading role in endangering falcons, said a researcher who asked wildlife conservators to take extra care to save the most loved bird of Arabia.

About 35 per cent of falcons die after eating prey that is exposed to pesticides, said Dr Zubair Medammel, an Indian researcher who has extensively studied falcons. "I'm afraid the bird could soon become endangered if extra care is not taken," he warned.

The bird, he said, has great cultural, traditional, and sporting importance in Arabia but unfortunately it is under serious threat of extinction as a result of food shortages, accidents and the effects of pesticides. He called upon the governments and wildlife conservation agencies to adopt effective measures to protect the bird.

"About one-third of falcons die due to preying on birds exposed to pesticides. A few months back the new bird flu epidemic added to the threat of extinction of falcons," said Dr Zubair.

He teaches at the Calicut University and is currently visiting the UAE.

Greater obligations

He said the falcons' owners in the UAE, as their position is at the top of the biological pyramid, have greater obligations toward the protection of their flocks from serious ecological risks. Explaining the threat, he said, falcons usually prey on small birds such as houbaras, pigeons and quails that eat toxic grains from the agricultural fields.

"Extra care should be taken while feeding falcons as many birds in various countries have died as a result of feeding on bird flu-affected food and preying on infected birds."

Dr Zubair, who has also been given membership in the Emirates Falconers Club, said falcons are a great hunting bird and Arabs have been using them for 1,000 years.

Arabs constitute one-third of the world's falconers, he added.

"Being the national bird and symbol of culture of most of the Middle East countries, falcons are accorded immense importance and highly facilitated exclusive hospitals exist for their treatment," he said.

Passport needed

It is the only bird that requires a passport to cross the border of a country, Dr Zubair said, referring to the measures taken by some Gulf countries. "The UAE started this system in 2002 to stop the smuggling of falcons."

Dr Zubair wrote his PhD thesis on the Biology and Behaviour of Falcons with Emphasis on Breeding and Healthcare of Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus.

It was not as easy a task since falcons fly and live at great heights. "It is very difficult to watch their movements and observe their behaviour," he said. To observe the falcons, one has to travel in an aircraft, and Dr Zubair flew more than 40 times around the world for the purpose.

Apart from the Gulf countries, Dr Zubair also visited Germany, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Iran as part of his research.

He received special training in artificial falcon-breeding from Stuttgart in Germany.

"I spent months at the Western Ghats [Silent Valley Hills] in Kerala and took about six years to complete the research work in the study of falcons," Dr Zubair said.