Soaring High at Al Ain International Festival of Falconry

Gulf News

The 2011 International Festival of Falconry in Abu Dhabi saw enthusiasts from around the world coming together to showcase their passion for falconry. Read about it here: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/heritage-culture/falconers-from-around-the-world-spread-their-wings-in-al-ain-1.949756. See more at http://gulfnews.com/gntv

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00:00In a desert camp between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the ancient art of falconry is thriving.

00:10Falconers from more than 80 countries around the world are gathering in the UAE for the

00:15second ever international festival of falconry.

00:18The desert camp near Rima provides an ideal setting for the birds of prey and their handlers

00:23to get a sense of the history and heritage of the sport in the Arabian Gulf.

00:28During campfires as the night goes down, over sweet tea, falconers share tales of the

00:34birds, how they're trained, how they hunt down their quarry and how they kill.

00:46Delegates from as far away as Mongolia and the United States learn the skill of the desert

00:50hunt on horseback and on camel, using Saluki dogs and falcons to hunt, setting out at dawn

00:57to kill rabbits and Hubara.

01:07For the first time in 30 years, hunting has been allowed just for this festival to showcase

01:12this ancient art.

01:14It's man and bird, falcon and falconer, working together as one.

01:18Michael Reilly, Gulf News.

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