Russia (bbabo.net), - In the central part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, at the foot of the Sharomsky cape mountain, a whole city has grown. The city is like a city, with housing, educational and public spaces, just for the birds. So far, there are few inhabitants in it - about a hundred, but in the future it is expected to be about a thousand. This is a falcon center, the first stage of construction of which was recently completed.
In a year and a half, an ornithological building appeared on 300 hectares with blocks of spacious enclosures (why not apartments?), an administrative complex and a flying ground. And in total, together with areas for organizing training and competitions, the center will occupy more than a thousand hectares. There has never been anything like it in Russia - and there are few such structures in the whole world. In the Kamchatka nursery, Red Book gyrfalcons will be bred to restore their population.
Evgeny Lobkov, doctor of biological sciences, professor of Kamchatka State Technical University, ornithologist, spoke about the situation that led to the need to save these rare birds.
Evgeny Georgievich, it's no secret that the poaching of gyrfalcons on the peninsula has reached gigantic proportions. Why did this problem occur?
Evgeny Lobkov: Illegal development of the population of gyrfalcon (other birds of prey too, but gyrfalcon in particular) in Kamchatka began in the late 80s of the last century. Birds are smuggled abroad, mainly to Arab countries (Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria), where they are used as hunters.
There it is part of the national culture, a whole layer of it. A large complex of events is dedicated to falconry: festivals, exhibitions, competitions, "beauty contests" for birds are organized. The whole country lives by these events. Hunting (and this is not one or two days) is carried out in the desert, where falconers gather. Everything is very impressive, and the prizes for the winners are very expensive. Imagine the huge need for birds of prey there!
Another thing is that such a need leads to poaching where falcons live in natural conditions. This is what happened in Kamchatka. It has its own population, there are main routes of migration of gyrfalcons. These predators are not heat-loving creatures, their habitat is the subarctic regions. On the peninsula, they not only nest, but flock here for the winter after the end of the breeding season - from the Koryak, Kolyma uplands. There are cases when birds born in Alaska were found here. Therefore, during such a period in Kamchatka, the number of gyrfalcons increases. In addition, the Kamchatka population is distinguished by a large proportion of light-colored individuals. There are also pure white ones - in Russia they used to be called red (that is, beautiful) for their special charm. Today in the Middle East they are ready to pay a lot, a lot for them.
How much? Some sources speak of hundreds of thousands of dollars ...
Evgeny Lobkov: I don't want to announce prices. What for? And I do not advise you.
In other words, the jackpot is huge and the temptation is great. And how many birds are exported from Kamchatka annually?
Evgeny Lobkov: It is difficult to give an assessment of the shadow market, I can only say that there were confiscated batches of 50-70 gyrfalcons. Simultaneously. Understand that the situation has not fundamentally changed in 30 years. And over the past 20 years, poaching has taken on an industrial scale. Previously, those involved in this business destroyed nests, took away eggs and chicks. But this method seemed too complicated: then try to grow a large strong gyrfalcon from a tiny feathered lump! Many chicks died. Therefore, poachers found it easier to catch adults. Predators are lured, for example, to pigeons. The falcon rushes to the prey and falls into the placed nets. Nothing difficult.
But since parties are still seized, it means that they are fighting against illegal immigrants?
Evgeny Lobkov: They fight. Law enforcement agencies periodically invite me to participate in examinations - I evaluate gyrfalcons found from poachers. Thanks to the security forces, they catch some of the falcon hunters. But this is a drop in the ocean. I repeat: the scale of illegal fishing is grandiose, and its participants are well equipped and trained, better than law enforcement officers. Although these gangs are mostly made up of foreigners, local residents are also involved. In some settlements, work for catchers is a way of finding employment.
Easier to catch adults. Predators are lured, for example, to pigeons. The falcon rushes to the prey and falls into the placed nets. Nothing difficult
What can I say, everyone knows where, how and how everything happens. There is a village of Ust-Bolsheretsk not far from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - a beautiful highway leads to it. Poachers specially come there, set traps, take out birds. It's not a secret. But we can't handle it.
How has the number of gyrfalcons in Kamchatka changed?Evgeny Lobkov: Difficult question. No doubt it has shrunk. How much, I can't say. Maybe double or triple. For the only time in the history of bird research on the peninsula, we carried out a census of gyrfalcons in 2005-2007. Then we were allocated small funds from the federal budget. They counted about 500 pairs, that is, about a thousand breeding birds. We don't know how many there are now. To determine the quantity, money is required, but there is none.
After all, the number is not the most important thing. She recovers if the birds are left alone. It is much sadder that we assume: changes have begun in the population structure at the genetic level. If, before the development of industrial poaching, it was believed that light-colored gyrfalcons make up three-quarters of the Kamchatka population and among them there are many birds with white plumage, now whites are only a fraction of a percent. They disappear before our eyes, there is a selective selection, because birds of this color are removed from nature in the first place. Previously, gray gyrfalcons were even released, now, of course, they take everyone in a row. We strongly suspect that the genetic structure is changing. And if this is true, you may soon lose the most valuable thing - the genetic identity of the Kamchatka population.
Will the falcon center be able to change the situation?
Evgeny Lobkov: If we are not able to cope with poaching, knowing where and how it is organized, we probably really need a nursery for breeding gyrfalcons and selling them abroad.
As far as I know, the project investor is negotiating with buyers from Arab countries, who are ready to purchase artificially bred birds. Poachers will lose their incentive to "work". Is it bad?
In addition to breeding and selling gyrfalcons, the organizers also plan to train falcons for competitions, conduct scientific research, rehabilitate birds that were seized from poachers, and replenish the natural population. It is also planned to create special tours for guests. It would be good if the work of the center were to be accompanied by scientific research, monitoring of the number and protection of other birds in Kamchatka - here a whole program could be created.
Direct speech
Shukhrat Razokov, Director of Falcon Center Kamchatka LLC:- Our team has 30 years of experience in breeding and breeding gyrfalcons using our own methods. The final launch of the center, which will become an example of breeding birds in their natural habitats, is planned for 2022. By September, we expect to complete the construction of auxiliary buildings, cottages for guests and blocks for staff accommodation, engineering networks, and in 2023 - transport infrastructure.
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