Act like a king, hunt a houbara

The government has issued 33 special permits for houbara hunting to Arab sheikhs, allowing them to hunt the internationally protected bird. To escape the harsh winters of Central Asia, Russia and China, the houbara migrates to the temperate regions of our country, only to be relentlessly hunted by Arab royals. Included in the list of endangered species, its hunting by any means, including falconry, is prohibited. But why do the royals go after the houbara with so much relish? They contend that falconry is their traditional sport and houbara is an ideal prey for it. By one estimate, 6,000 to 7,000 live houbaras are shipped to the UAE every year. These birds are trapped through illegal netting and poaching. A typical hunting camp consists of about 300 men and incurs an expense of about $1 million.

Mary Anne Weaver covering houbara hunting for The New Yorker wrote: “As we waited on the tarmac, the arriving planes lit up the night sky. Flying in formation, observing protocol-apparently-an executive Learjet was followed by two customised Boeings and a fleet of reconfigured C-130s, which flew two abreast. They had all been designated ‘special VVIP flights’ by the Pakistani government. The lead planes touched down and a red carpet was hastily unrolled. As we approached the entourage, an Arab diplomat said with exhaustion in his voice ‘this is the sixth flight in one week’.” Weaver went on: “A local chieftain later told me, ‘You know, madam, these Arabs consider houbara an aphrodisiac.’ So I have heard, I replied. ‘But some of them, madam, eat one houbara a day, sometimes two if it’s a special occasion. That means they may eat as many as 500 birds a year!” Poor bird.

A few weeks ago, the houbara hunting camp of Qatar’s petroleum minister in Kech was vandalised and set on fire. Luckily, the minister hadn’t arrived from Qatar at the time. Incidentally, the minister’s hunting entourage had been attacked last year, too. The houbara must possess some rare quality for its hunters to pursue it so relentlessly.

The government, during 2012-13, issued 12 permits for hunting with about 815 trained falcons. Two of these permits for 135 falcons were presented to the Saudi royal family, five for 200 falcons to the royal family of Bahrain, two permits for 250 falcons to the UAE, and three for 230 falcons to the royal families of Qatar.

Although a rapidly increasing population and use of pesticides are also partly responsible, but indiscriminate hunting, poaching and netting even during the mating season are the main reasons why our wildlife is being destroyed. Strange it is that politically influential hunters and bird shooters are usually appointed game wardens. The irony is that while the houbara is becoming extinct, the royals chasing it are multiplying. Too many royals, too few birds.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2014.

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