Falconry & Conservation
The South African Falconers are cognizant of the importance of Animal Welfare and good animal husbandry, which must be the foundation of good falconry. The Code of Conduct for Falconry has been lodged with the Dept. of Agriculture. Provincial Falconry Clubs have established rules and regulations determining the requirements for good hawk husbandry and include mews inspections in their activities. SAFA has a number of qualified Veterinarian members and also have a number of members qualified as Animal Welfare Inspectors. Falconers are required to sign an Ethical Hunting Form at the annual SAFA Field Meet. This is a declaration which incorporates animal welfare aspects including the principle of “five freedoms”.
South African falconers are concerned with the Conservation of birds of prey, quarry species and of the natural environment. Falconry is clearly a sustainable use activity as envisaged in the Convention on Biological Diversity. As such, the very practice of Falconry can be seen as promoting the cause of conservation.
Falconers as a group, have a disproportionate value in the conservation effort.
This is exemplified by the variety of additional conservation activities in which they are involved. These can be classified as follows:
a) Scientific Studies of wild raptor populations.
b) Population surveys of wild raptors – counts, surveys, nest records, bird ringing.
c) Sentinel function.
