A passion for entertainment, hunting and developing a hobby for falconry is what defines the locals, is what I understood from the Katara International Hunting & Falcons Exhibition “S’Hail”.

 

Even though I’ve lived in Qatar for the last 20 years, I’ve only seen a few falcons at the souq for show and tell and some for sale. But walking into this exhibition hall at Katara, I was surprised to see a number of things. One, the people, two the birds, three the painters, four the vets, and last but not least the variety and places that these beautiful birds came from.

 

Falcons, known for their sharp hunting instincts and rapid change of direction cos of the way the feathers align, are absolutely fascinating creatures to see up close. What amazed me the most at this event, was their calm nature with many visitors and the noise around, which obviously is attributed to the fact that they had on their own little helmets of sorts to keep their eyes closed in case of flight risks.

The location is easy to find and the tent for the exhibition is situated at Building 12 & Wisdom square. Spanning over more than 7000 sqm, the exhibition did justice to visitors and buyers alike. The exhibition witnessed the participation of over 10 countries. To name a few: Kuwait, England, USA, Turkey, Sweden, China, Spain, Poland, India, Pakistan, Lebanon and others showcasing the best breeds from their region. Only here I came to know how big of an activity hunting in Qatar really is. There were mostly Qatari men seen to be haggling for the prices and items that were for purchase.

Stalls also included weaponry for hunting and gadgets used for this purpose like binoculars, guns, food, toy cars, hunting gear, hoods, bells, transmitters, jesses etc. Vet Centers also put up videos on how falcon health can be maintained and micro-chipped. Around 50-60 falcons are brought to the Qatar Falcon Center on a daily basis for checkups and maintenance procedures.

The most fabulous part of the entire show were the artists from countries like Russia, Iran, India and Qatar creating portraits and paintings of falcons live at the scene. You could also speak to them and ask them about their experience, their choice of colors and what fascinates them about these birds.

Another fascinating activity for adults and kids alike is the shooting range where everyone could try their hand at hunting for fun through a digital format. There were also the popular cafes for quick nibbles and coffee sessions for visitors.

 

As you exit the tent, the last part consisted of the stalls where the hunting gear is displayed for purchase and workmanship can be admired as there were also people working to create hand gear live.

All in all, this was a great experience for locals and expats alike to see, pet and take a peek into the world of Falconry.

Written & Pictures by: Keertana Koduru