International Trade in Saker Falcons

Wild Saker Falcons have for generations been trapped in the wild for use in falconry, whilst the widespread commercial trade in wild falcons is of relatively recent origin, fuelled by the increased wealth of falconers in the Arabian Peninsula. Sakers are trapped throughout their breeding range as well as on migration and in their wintering areas. The number of falcons exported to falconry nations are difficult to assess due to the secretive and mostly illegal nature of the trade. It is extremely difficult to ascertain the origin of wild-caught Saker Falcons as illegal trappers keep no records as to where or when the birds were caught.

Legal Trade
There is an existing legal trade in Saker Falcons. This trade is regulated by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Currently, we are aware of only one country (Mongolia) that is engaged in CITES regulated export of wild falcons.

CITES was set up to ensure that international trade of Endangered species does not threaten their survival in the wild. Saker Falcons are listed on CITES Appendix II. Their listing on this Appendix means that the Saker Falcon is “not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.” Signatory Parties are legally bound to adhere to the Convention legislation by forming their own domestic laws, which regulate the international trade in Sakers to and from the country. Exporting Appendix II species requires an export permit or re-export certificate, which is issued via the Management Authority of the State concerned. This may only be issued if the specimen was legally obtained and “if the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species”.

The judgement of whether or not this trade is sustainable primarily lies with the exporting nation. See CITES Review of Significant Trade in Specimens of Appendix-II Species.

Saker Falcons are not declining all parts of their global breeding range. In the steppes of Central Mongolia the Saker is still a widespread, common species with a stable breeding population in its core central steppe habitats. There are environmental, social and economic issues associated with the grazing management of the Mongolian steppes and the sustainable harvesting of Saker Falcons could potentially have many benefits, for the environment and the people that live there. A well regulated, transparent and verifiable system of harvest and export could be developed, which would satisfy the regulations of CITES and meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Illegal Trade
CITES cannot regulate the illegal trade in Saker Falcons: trapping and smuggling continues to occur. Many birds are trapped thousands of miles from their ultimate destination for sale. The methods used to trap and transport Sakers are often inhumane, resulting in the death or distress of the bird. For example a Saker might be trapped in Pakistan using a decoy Lugger Falcon fitted with nooses and then transported from Pakistan to the Middle East in a thermos flask or small tube in which to hold the bird. Trapped birds will often pass several middle-men before being purchased by a falconer; these middle-men can be gangs involved in a variety of criminal activities. Trappers are normally poor and have no other means to earn a living, they may obtain as little as a few US dollars per bird, but the falconer who uses the bird may pay several thousand US dollars, with much of this profit going to criminal gangs.

Corruption is a significant problem that enables this illegal trade to exist. In some cases local law enforcement agencies, government agencies, the military and customs inspectors have been implicated in involvement in the illegal falcon trade. In some of the end-user states there are no laws against the use of wild-caught falcons that have no CITES permits. Whilst in the past, wild-caught falcons were normally released in spring after the hunting season but this tradition has largely disappeared and now the birds are commonly passed on as gifts where they may end up in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to care for them properly and they die. In other countries there are laws against the use and/or sale of wild-caught falcons and here the illegal traders will use fake breeders’ rings and fake documentation to enable them to sell their birds.

There was an initiative to set up a Falcon Enforcement Task Force to examine illicit trade in falcons, though since its inception there has been little tangible progress and this initiative seems to have been abandoned. In some countries, such as Ukraine, there have reportedly been problems with prosecuting falcon smugglers because there are no suitable places to keep confiscated falcons prior to a trial. In other countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and north-western Pakistan there is little or no law enforcement to prevent falcon smuggling and the issue is understandably way down the list of law enforcement priorities. In China we have seen a falcon smuggler sentenced to death (later commuted to life in prison), yet in some areas of China there is a quasi-legalised trade with regional officials providing trappers with permits to conduct their activities. Poverty, corruption and a lack of law enforcement are the realities of the illegal falcon trade, which supplies the demand from the end users in the Arabian Peninsula.