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Sokoliarstvo je spôsob lovu pomocou vycvičených dravcov – najmä sokolov, jastrabov a orlov. Tradičná forma poľovníctva používa svoje vlastné metódy a filozofiu. Tento druh lovu má korene v stepiach južnej Ázie, v oblasti Indie a Iránu. V období Veľkomoravskej ríše už bolo rozšírené aj na území Slovenska. Mať dravca bolo ukážkou prestíže. Hlavne vládnucej vrstve boli vyhradené veľké alebo ušľachtilé sokoly, sokol sťahovavý, sokol rároh a najvzácnejší z nich sokol lovecký. V roku 2016 zapísali sokoliarstvo na zoznam nehmotného kultúrneho dedičstva ľudstva UNESCO. Zápis je spoločný pre 18 štátov, medzi ktorými je aj Slovensko. Falconry is a way of hunting with trained birds of prey - especially falcons, hawks and eagles. This traditional form of hunting has its own methods and philosophy. This type of hunting has its roots in the steppes of South Asia, India and Iran. During the Great Moravian Empire period, it was already widespread in the area of modern Slovakia. Having a bird of prey was considered prestigious. Large or noble falcons, the peregrine falcon, the saker falcon and the rarest one, gyrfalcon, were reserved for the ruling class. In 2016, falconry was entered in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is a joint entry for 18 countries, one of which is Slovakia.

The falconer Slavomír Kukurugya comes from Zvolen and has lived in Košice since 2005. He has been practicing falconry since he was 14 years old and since 2012 has been taking care of the falconry at the Leisure Centre in Košice. There is also a children’s club called Young Falconer and the Falconry Group Horus, which presents falconry all over Slovakia. In the past, falconry was also considered an art, as it is one of the few types of man-animal cooperation where no coercive means are used. Birds of prey just do not know any from nature. They cannot be punished or otherwise forced. If it doesn't want to fly back, it just won’t - even for long hours. A bird of prey will always have one foot (or wing) in nature and it is only up to the falconer's skill to develop a relationship with it - that is, for the bird of prey to return to them voluntarily. Therefore, a falconer's most valuable trait is their patience. Slavomír Kukurugya is thus very pleased to be able to gradually pass on his experience and knowledge. It gives him hope that the next generation will maintain traditional falconry as a living craft that showcases not only the beauty of birds of prey and their way of life but also their coexistence and cooperation with humans.

In the arms of the wings

Living stories