Thai police are looking for illegal hunters using hawks in the hunt

[webfact]

Police are looking for illegal hunters using hawks in the hunt

 

 

CHACHOENGSAO: -- The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation has instructed its officials to lodge a complaint with police in Bang Nam Pliew district of Chachoengsao against five hunters who allegedly hunted wild birds with Harris hawks in the district.

 

Images of the men hunting birds with their Harris hawks in what was suspected to be a hunting competition went viral in the social media, prompting widespread criticisms against the practice.

 

The department chief, Mr Tunya Netithammakul, said on Thursday that the hunting was illegal because the birds killed by their Harris hawks were protected species.

 

As seen in the social media images, there were four Bronze-winged Jacana carcasses, three White-breasted Waterhen carcasses and two Lesser Whistling Duck carcasses.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-looking-illegal-hunters-using-hawks-hunt/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-03-10

[Briggsy]

Just to give some background,

 

Harris hawks are native to the Americas and would not occur naturally in Thailand. It seems they have been specifically bred or imported for falconry.

 

Bang Nam Prieow is a fertile area of Chachoengsao fully irrigated and used for paddy. This provides excellent opportunities for wading birds and grassland and reed birds.

 

The Central Plains of Thailand, despite the massive development, still provides a rich habitat for many species of birds, be they resident, winter migrants or passage migrants.

Edited March 10, 2017 by Briggsy

[phantomfiddler]

The noble sport of falconry would surely cause very little damage compared to the effects of human encroachment on their habitat, and I,m sure Jack Mavrogordato would agree :)

[robblok]

6 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

The noble sport of falconry would surely cause very little damage compared to the effects of human encroachment on their habitat, and I,m sure Jack Mavrogordato would agree :)

A slap in your face of course does less damage then a kick in your nuts but that does not mean giving you a slap in the face should be allowed.

[PatOngo]

I have never seen a hawk in this country, but there seems to be plenty of vultures!

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

The noble sport of falconry would surely cause very little damage compared to the effects of human encroachment on their habitat, and I,m sure Jack Mavrogordato would agree :)

You know how the BIB is about technicalities. 

[Skeptic7]

Have seen Harris's Hawk on 2 occasions in the extreme US desert SW. A beautiful and noble species which should be left unmolested in it's natural and native habitat. BTW...falconry is an IGNOBLE and cruel human activity, which should be banned, with the possible exception of rescued birds that cannot survive being reintroduced back to the wild and then only for conservation and educational purposes. And definitely not for human entertainment and killing of protected species.

[Shawn0000]

In the main article it wrongly states that Harris Hawks are found in both the Americas and Europe, they are native only to the Americas, in Europe they are only found in captivity, as they are in Asia.  What I can't understand is why they would buy such an expensive imported hawk when there are so many native birds of prey they could train and that they could get their hands on for free or just a small price.

[Briggsy]

Just now, Shawn0000 said:

In the main article it wrongly states that Harris Hawks are found in both the Americas and Europe, they are native only to the Americas, in Europe they are only found in captivity, as they are in Asia.  What I can't understand is why they would buy such an expensive imported hawk when there are so many native birds of prey they could train and that they could get their hands on for free or just a small price.

Harris hawks are the most easily trained hawks. Falconry for beginners.

 

There are a lot of Thais with little to do and money to burn on hobbies.  Without going into economics, it is related to wealth inequality (e.g. sons of police, etc.)

[Skeptic7]

Here's an example of the ignoble "sport" of falconry. This event unfolded in BKK a few months ago and posted to the Birds In Your Garden thread...

 

So here's the pix of the escaped Black-shouldered Kite I mentioned a few weeks ago. The falconer's orange tether is clearly visible and hanging loosely before the bird got tangled, stuck and unable to fly. In the last pic, it can clearly be seen how entangled it was. Though my GF and I were able to free the bird with the help of a nearby residence groundskeeper and a 20 foot bamboo pole, it's fate was probably sealed regardless, with those shackles on...but at least we did not have to witness it's certain, slow demise tethered to that treetop.

[slapout]

When you consider what we are told about money involved in the drugs being shipped thru and sold in Thailand , then add in the huge amount that is pocketed by the other dishonest people in the public and private sector, what can they spend it on? You can only drive 1 auto at a time, live in 1 house, own so many assets here, so they will find something to buy just to get the paper money out of their way.