Local inspection: – Are raptor shows animal cruelty?

“Putzi” scratches audibly in his housing in the starting blocks. The very imposing griffon vulture knows exactly: the spectators have taken place in this beautiful arena high on the Wilder Berg, the falconer is ready – his show begins. And as a layman one can only say: it seems that the mighty bird enjoys its appearance and almost brags.

He hovers just above the heads of his audience, who almost imagine themselves in a scene from “Game of Thrones”, to the gloved hand of his falconer. Which, of course, has a tidbit in it, falconry trick No. 1. “Putzi” doesn’t even grab it – the bird of prey doesn’t seem to be that hungry.

Animal rights activists: ‘Birds are starving’
But that’s exactly what the Quadrupeds accuse the bird shows of: the imposing animals are so starved that they participate in this circus almost out of sheer desperation. An accusation that does not go down well with the experienced falconer Rudi Offenbacher. “Why does a bird fly? It’s no different for food purchases than with us. But that doesn’t mean you let it starve beforehand, I reject that,” he says indignantly.

Building trust is an art
“The animals are kept in an athletic way, even in nature they are not always full. The bird just knows there is something in the falconer’s hand that he likes, so he flies there.” Postscript: “And mostly because he trusts it. Building this trust is an art.”

“chicks are not taken from parents”
And wouldn’t it be based on the chicks being taken away from their parents, in line with the well-known animal conservation organization’s second charge, and being totally misaligned and human-oriented. Offenbacher: “Our birds come from selected breeders and are raised by their parents. Only then will we get to work with them.” Addendum: “At least that’s how we do it.”

The training usually lasts six weeks to two months. And it is based on the fact that the flight artist knows that he can get food from the falconer. Postscript: “If he doesn’t want to fly, he won’t fly.” Whether it’s because the weather isn’t right, he doesn’t feel like it or has no taste.”

Wild animals also appreciate habits
Especially eagles, buzzards and vultures are often herded into freedom for hours. Why don’t they just stay there, bandits, so to speak? “They could, we can find them through the transmitters, but that doesn’t mean they can’t fly farther and farther.” But: “Even such an animal likes habits. Getting reliable food, being safe from enemies in the enclosure, the bird feels that too.”

Once a falcon flew away, Offenbacher found only his tattered corpse, “according to the traces he was killed by a hawk. That’s how it works in nature, it doesn’t happen in an aviary.”

“We strictly follow the rules”
In captivity, the animals usually live longer than in the wild. And that’s not all, “we keep them in species-appropriate pairs, but we don’t breed them further.” 17 birds are at home in Mautern, together with Kapfenberg and Riegersburg one of the three Styrian locations where birds of prey are shows.

Here the welfare of the bird comes first. No visitor should get too close to the animal or even pet it. Dogs, which the wild animals fear, are also prohibited. “We strictly adhere to every regulation.”

“Such a show has nothing to do with animal welfare!”
Animal Protection Ombudsman Barbara Fiala-Köck sees the matter as problematic: “Why does a bird fly? Because it is hungry! The art of the falconer is to feed the bird so that it is so hungry that it flies. But not so weakly as not to – that has nothing to do with animal friendliness!”

Also: “Often hooded falcons are deprived of their sight. Or keep the birds without congeners. All of that is no longer current.” But the problem had already reached the administrative courts, “which meant that the provisions were tightened up. But everyone should really think twice about watching a show like this – it has nothing to do with animal welfare.”

“Putzi”, now 23 years old and an old hand in show business, doesn’t matter much. He’s already back in the starting blocks. Hungry – but maybe more for attention.