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Dr Medammal with falcons in Bahrain

Indian falcon expert to shoot documentary in Bahrain

MANAMA, June 10, 2015

A falcon expert from India is visiting Bahrain to film part of a new documentary on the predatory bird.

Dr Zubair Medammal plans to release ‘Falcons and Falconry in the Arabian Gulf’  in September and distribute 100,000 copies free-of-charge to schools, colleges and universities across India and the GCC, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The 44-year-old assistant professor at Calicut University in Kerala arrived in Bahrain yesterday morning, in search of a sponsor and comments from “top officials”, he told the GDN.

“My team has already finished shooting segments of the 45-minute documentary in Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” he said.

“After finishing our filming here, we will return to India and then finish the work at Dubai Media City.

“My mission is to bring the idea home that falcons and falconry are part of Arab culture and heritage, and make the younger generation aware of this.”

The documentary, which will include commentary in English, Arabic and Malayalam, aims to explore the characteristics, life cycle and habitat of these prized birds.

A falcon enthusiast for more than two decades, Dr Medammal has travelled the world for his research – visiting Germany, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Iran, besides spending many months in Kerala’s own Silent Valley National Park.

But it all began in 1994, when he was actually denied a job at Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

“I was a fresh post graduate and it was not easy for me to get a job in the Gulf those days with a zoology degree,” said Dr Medammal.

“Arabs coming to the hospital with falcons caught my attention and I asked a doctor there for a job.

“His refusal upset me, but that was the beginning and I took up the topic as a challenge.”

Apart from their use in hunting, falcons can also be used to drive away crows and other birds that disturb air traffic and pose a threat to passenger planes, Dr Medammal said.

However, he urged caution when rearing the birds, as they are susceptible to illness if not cared for correctly.

“About a third of falcons die due to preying on birds exposed to pesticides,” he said.

“The bird flu epidemic will add to the threat of extinction of falcons, a symbol of force and courage.”

Dr Medammal is the first non-Arab to be granted membership in the Emirates Falconers Club and he was also honoured with the Government of Kerala’s Pravasi Award for outstanding research in foreign countries.

He has a doctorate in the biology and behaviour of falcons and has recorded the details of his extensive studies and research on his website. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: film | Falcon | expert | Bahrin |

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