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Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity · 2021
Falconry, a living human heritage
Shared by 24 countries, Pakistan among them
The art of training and flying falcons and other birds of prey — a practice with more than 4,000 years of history, inscribed by UNESCO in 2021 as heritage shared by 24 countries including Pakistan.
What it is
Falconry is the traditional art of training and flying falcons — and sometimes eagles, hawks, buzzards and other birds of prey. Once a way of hunting for food, it is now valued for companionship, recreation and a close bond with nature.
How it is passed on
Falconers learn through mentoring, within families and in training clubs. They share methods for breeding, training and caring for their birds and for making the traditional equipment, and today put great weight on protecting the birds, their habitats and the practice itself.