Falconer trained in UAE shows off his bird in Syria's Idlib - in pictures

Muhammed learnt many of the skills he knows today while training with falcon professionals in the emirates

Antar the falcon waves his wings while is owner waters him on a pomegranate tree. All photos: Abd Almajed Alkarh / The National

Muhammed Al Humsi learnt from UAE falcon trainers that he should water Antar's body in the afternoons

Al Humsi holds the fur of two foxes he received as a gift. He has been raising birds since he was 14

Al Humsi feeds his falcon, which usually eats one or two pigeons a day

Al Humsi takes Antar to the vet for occasional check-ups, to ensure he is in good health

Sisters Yasmine and Khadija Alloush hold the falcon in front of a shopping mall in Idlib

Yasmine Alloush enjoys holding the falcon for the first time

Antar perches on her head. His wings are about one metre wide

Antar is 2.5 years old and weighs 4kg

Antar attracts attention, waving his wings

People gather to see the falcon outside the shopping mall in Idlib

Ahmed Al Ahmed, a 26-year-old from Idlib, enjoys holding Antar. He says the falcon is an unusual sight in that part of Syria

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