| Description |
Falconry (munushkorluk, itelgichilik, itelgi saluu) is a traditional practice and domain of knowledge, which includes catching and taming of falcons, training and flying them to take quarry in a natural environment. This domain also includes belief systems, ritual practices, and oral history on falcon types, their behaviour and character traits, as well as methods of their selection and taming and an influence they have on the falconer's life. Falconry was one of the ways of traditional life support of nomadic Kyrgyz people. It was an integral part of a nomadic life style based on the relationship between a man and a bird. In the course of this interaction, the man tamed the bird to his needs, and the bird nurtured in man such qualities as sensitivity, endurance and caring attitude to the world of nature. Hence, this model of interaction enabled the falconer to develop a respect and a caring attitude towards all of his surroundings. |
| Social and cultural significance |
The element strengthens a live, non-virtual, communication between various people and supports other types of ICH, such as sherine (forms of joint traditional recreation) or ashar (types of mutual labor assistance). The element requires regular physical training and contributes to maintaining the fit and healthy body of the practitioners. The specificity of Kyrgyz falconry is in working with the wild birds – from obtaining to flying. Folk taboos on the destruction of the offspring of falcons have their own power among practitioners and contribute to the development of a non-consumer attitude to wildlife. This partly explains the great diversity of falcon species in the country.
High achievements in falconry at the international level form a sense of national pride and collective identity. The element forms the social demand for older generations who can no longer practice, but know what young practitioners need. The development of falconry enriches the country's tourism potential.
The traditional knowledge and rituals of falconry are folk methods of preserving biodiversity and ecology, and should become part of modern educational programs.
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| Transmission method |
The element mailnly transmitted informally through the master-apprentice system (ustat-shakirt) based on kinship. Typically, the element is transmitted through family line and practices, as well as through life stories and oral history. An apprentice without falconary family heritage finds a teacher and learns the art of falconry through individual master-apprentice system. Cultural events and festivals of various sizes are methods of knowledge transmission as well. 7-8 national events take place in the country annually. Each of them contains training components. Every year during the hunting season (November-February), the network of falconers from all over the country gather for collective events to exchange and transmitt practices, rituals and personal stories on falconry. Since 2014, the World Nomad Games have become an international platform to exchange the experiences and knowledge. Currently, there is a position of a national falconry trainer and there are some visible tendencies to enhance and integrate falconry into the formal education system. Annualy, the Salbuurun Federation organizes and conducts master classes on taming mechanisms, skills, methods and on bird&human outfit preperation. |
| Community |
The community of falconers about 20 to 30 people throughout the country.
1. Federation 'Salbuurun",
2. Federation "Sanat Kuumai".
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| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2021 |
