Pakistan foils attempt to smuggle endangered falcons

[Patriot forever]

Photos: Pakistan foils attempt to smuggle endangered falcons
Customs officials seized 75 falcons and a houbara bustard at locations around Karachi

Published: October 17, 2020 18:06AFP and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor
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Karachi: Pakistani authorities said Saturday they had foiled an attempt to smuggle dozens of endangered falcons worth more than one million dollars out of the country.Image Credit: AFP
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Wildlife traffickers catch falcons in Pakistan's mountainous north, often to sell them for lucrative profits in the Gulf region, where hunting with the birds is a popular sport.Image Credit: AFP
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Customs officials seized 75 falcons and a houbara bustard at locations around the southern port city of Karachi in what they called an "unprecedented" anti-smuggling operation.Image Credit: AFP
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"The birds are listed as rare and endangered species and their trade is strictly banned," said senior customs officer Mohammad Saqif Saeed.Image Credit: AFP
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He did not identify the species of the birds but estimated their value to be around 200 million rupees (over $1 million) on the black market.Image Credit: AFP
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Authorities have arrested two suspects and plan to release the birds into the wild.Image Credit: AFP
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A custom official touches a falcon that was recovered from illegal captivity.Image Credit: AFP
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Falcons are often used by wealthy hunting parties from the Gulf who travel to Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province every winter to catch and kill the houbara.Image Credit: AFP
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An earlier ban on the sport was overturned by Pakistan's top court.Image Credit: AFP
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Two hundred rare falcons were reportedly exported to Qatar from Pakistan earlier this year on special permission.Image Credit: AFP
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A customs officer (R) holds on his arm a falcon that was recovered from illegal captivity, during a press briefing with customs authorities in Karachi.Image Credit: AFP
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[waz]

The safety of our falcons is more important than the fat sheikhs. Hope we never see the vermin again in Pakistan.

 

[Clutch]

Zionist Arabs trying to rape Pakistans nature and endangered species. The hell with these Zionist Arabs.

 

[masterchief_mirza]

Great work!

But dude in the pic - a loosely wrapped towel is no replacement for a bird handling gauntlet.

 

[Imran Khan]

poor bird suffering for stupid humans

 

[IceCold]

Such a beautiful bird. **** these fat toads who hunt it. There is no longer the government of nawaz nehru lal who is not bothered at all about Pakistan. I hope we stop this practice once and for all.

 

[Itachi]

Photos: Pakistan foils attempt to smuggle endangered falcons
Customs officials seized 75 falcons and a houbara bustard at locations around Karachi

Published: October 17, 2020 18:06AFP and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor
1 of 12

Karachi: Pakistani authorities said Saturday they had foiled an attempt to smuggle dozens of endangered falcons worth more than one million dollars out of the country.Image Credit: AFP
2 of 12

Wildlife traffickers catch falcons in Pakistan's mountainous north, often to sell them for lucrative profits in the Gulf region, where hunting with the birds is a popular sport.Image Credit: AFP
3 of 12

Customs officials seized 75 falcons and a houbara bustard at locations around the southern port city of Karachi in what they called an "unprecedented" anti-smuggling operation.Image Credit: AFP
4 of 12

"The birds are listed as rare and endangered species and their trade is strictly banned," said senior customs officer Mohammad Saqif Saeed.Image Credit: AFP
5 of 12

He did not identify the species of the birds but estimated their value to be around 200 million rupees (over $1 million) on the black market.Image Credit: AFP
6 of 12

Authorities have arrested two suspects and plan to release the birds into the wild.Image Credit: AFP
7 of 12

A custom official touches a falcon that was recovered from illegal captivity.Image Credit: AFP
8 of 12

Falcons are often used by wealthy hunting parties from the Gulf who travel to Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province every winter to catch and kill the houbara.Image Credit: AFP
9 of 12

An earlier ban on the sport was overturned by Pakistan's top court.Image Credit: AFP
10 of 12

Two hundred rare falcons were reportedly exported to Qatar from Pakistan earlier this year on special permission.Image Credit: AFP
11 of 12

A customs officer (R) holds on his arm a falcon that was recovered from illegal captivity, during a press briefing with customs authorities in Karachi.Image Credit: AFP
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Release them back into the wild if they're fit enough to survive. If there's a good ratio of males to females, even better.

Do not release them in Karachi at least.

 

[Dual Wielder]

I do not like the fact that their eyes are [still?] covered.. surely they already have been through enough.

 

[CatSultan]

I do not like the fact that their eyes are [still?] covered.. surely they already been through enough.

It's so they don't panic.

Why do trained falcons wear blinders?

Answer (1 of 6): So, to answer your question, falcons are sensitive to sounds and are easily frightened. Before use, Falconers keep the blindfolds on the bird to keep them calm. These blindfolds will prevent them from becoming startled and will keep them calm. The blindfolds will also prevent l...

www.quora.com

 

[Itachi]

I do not like the fact that their eyes are [still?] covered.. surely they already been through enough.

That's how falconry works....if their eyes weren't covered, there would be a lot less falcons in the room also...

If you get what I mean.

Although the yellow thing around the end of their wings and tails....I haven't seen that before and would like to know what it is if anyone here knows. Looks like yellow tape....is it so that they can't fly?

 

[Dual Wielder]

That's how falconry works....if their eyes weren't covered, there would be a lot less falcons in the room also...

If you get what I mean.

Although the yellow thing around the end of their wings and tails....I haven't seen that before and would like to know what it is if anyone here knows. Looks like yellow tape....is it so that they can't fly?

Perhaps I should have made my post tad bit more clear? my conerns are not so that these aves can maintain their adept status at the UFC (Ultimate Falcon Competition), it was purely for humanitarian sake. I feel they should have been shifted into a more suitable environment with specialist care i.e. zoo till they were ready to be released back into the wild.

 

[Itachi]

Perhaps I should have made my post tad bit more clear? my conerns are not so that these aves can maintain their adept status at the UFC (Ultimate Falcon Competition), it was purely for humanitarian sake. I feel they should have been shifted into a more suitable environment with specialist care i.e. zoo till they were ready to be released back into the wild.

They're birds of prey, not kids who need a daycare. They'll survive.

Perhaps I should have made my post tad bit more clear? my conerns are not so that these aves can maintain their adept status at the UFC (Ultimate Falcon Competition), it was purely for humanitarian sake. I feel they should have been shifted into a more suitable environment with specialist care i.e. zoo till they were ready to be released back into the wild.

The amount of poop on the floor and the AC shows they're quite well taken care of.

 

[Dual Wielder]

They're birds of prey, not kids who need a daycare. They'll survive.

That generally maybe the case, but we don't know in what conditions they were kept in, if they are fit to be released then the sooner the better.

 

[Thorough Pro]

Actually, it's the Pakistani citizens who are catching, smuggling and selling these birds not the Arabs. They are just buying it from the black market.

Zionist Arabs trying to rape Pakistans nature and endangered species. The hell with these Zionist Arabs.

 

[Trango Towers]

Such beautiful bird designed by Allah to be free held prisoner by dumb sheikhs. So sad.