Falconry, a living human heritage
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.
#hunting
#falcon
#bird
#men
#nomadism
#traditional knowledge
#biological diversity
Kyrgyzstan
2021