Retired soldier finds new passion in eagle training
KOTA BELUD: After years of dedicated service in the military, a retired soldier from Kampung Payas-Payas here has embarked on a new ‘mission’; training birds of prey, particularly eagles.
Retired soldier Mohd Amin Musi, 45, from Kampung Payas-Payas, has found a new passion in training birds of prey, specifically eagles. After serving in the military, Amin became interested in falconry while stationed in Peninsular Malaysia in 2012. He later acquired an eagle from a friend in Kedah in 2014, but lacked knowledge on how to train it.
To learn the necessary skills, Amin sought guidance from experienced trainers, emphasizing the importance of face-to-face instruction over videos or online resources. Currently, Amin owns ten eagles of various species, including Crested Serpent Eagle, Wallace's Hawk-Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, and Mountain Serpent Eagle.
Eagle training involves four stages: manning, calling, baggies, and hunting. Manning involves acclimating the eagle to humans and handling, while calling trains the eagle to respond when called, often linked to feeding. Baggies introduce live prey, teaching the eagle to recognize and hunt for its food. The training process also requires monitoring the eagle's weight, as it plays a crucial role in training.
Amin highlights sharp eyesight as a key advantage of eagles, as they can spot prey from far distances. Mature wild eagles may require less training due to their inherent skills in flying, identifying prey, and hunting. For young eagles, Amin notes that they need to learn everything from scratch, as they haven't experienced hunting with their parents.
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