bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

SCMP Reporter

The blue washbasin which smashed over Alan Parrot's back in April, crushing two of his vertebrae, is still lying in a corner of his apartment in Ulan Bator. 'I guess these guys want me to leave,' says Mr Parrot pointing to it with a small smile. 'But I am the one the corrupt guys fear the worst. This is the epicentre of falcon smuggling in the world and I intend to clean it up.'  Despite losing six centimetres in height and being paralysed for 18 days, the blue-eyed American still strikes an imposing figure often dressed in white from head to toe.

 This convert to Sikhism who wears a turban has spent five years trying to smash what he believes is a conspiracy involving corrupt Mongolian officials and Arab smugglers that threatens the survival of many species.

 Mr Parrot has been involved in falcons since his childhood and began training these birds of prey at the court of the Shah of Iran more than 20 years ago when he was just 18. Like medieval kings, the favourite sport of oil-rich sheikhs and emirs of the Arabian Gulf is to go hunting in the desert with swift falcon on their arms.

 Wealthy Gulf rulers and their followers fly out each year together with their birds to the deserts of Pakistan to hunt their favourite prey, the Lesser MacQueen's Bustard, whose cooked flesh is said to act as an aphrodisiac. The bustard has been hunted to extinction on the Arabian peninsular.

 Birds like peregrines or Saker falcons are a coveted status symbol, and the sheikhs look abroad for the fiercest and fastest. Wild birds are most desirable because domestic breed birds are said to lack killer instincts and honed hunting skills.

 'They are as valuable as thoroughbred horses. We are talking about feathered cocaine,' Mr Parrot says.

 Since the fall of communism, sheikhs have competed to buy wild birds captured in the newly independent and often lawless countries of Central Asia. However, many are classed as protected species, and their trade is illegal and lucrative.

 'There is a network of criminals involved in smuggling these birds,' says John Sellars, a law enforcement official at the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), 'and these people will resort to violence.'  Mr Parrot puts it more bluntly. 'People are prepared to commit murder for these birds. This a business worth tens of millions of dollars a year.'  In 1994, Mongolia officially became involved. Its Ministry of the Environment signed a rolling 10-year export contract with the son of the Saudi Arabian Minister of the Interior, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdullaziz Al Saud, who agreed to buy 800 non-endangered falcons for US$2 million (about HK$15.5 million).

 Under CITES, Mongolia, a signatory, is allowed to export falcons which are not on the endangered species list, provided it monitors the health of its wildlife population and ensures it does not decline to dangerous levels. But it appears no one knows what the populations are.

 The government has issued a number of export licences in recent years, but it is feared many falcons are also being caught and smuggled illegally, including rare species on the endangered list.

  'Illegal trade in falcons is one of the main problems for CITES and has been for years,' Mr Sellars says.

  Each year hundreds if not thousands of birds die during capture or transportation. Through his company, Creme de le Creme, Mr Parrot, who claims a long track record in co-operating with law-enforcement agencies in North America to stop illegal exports, offered the Mongolian government an alternative export plan incorporating long-term conservation of the birds.

 'It was a model for a sustainable development of wildlife which would give local people an incentive to protect the wildlife, not to steal it and quickly exhaust it,' explains Washington-based lawyer Bill Garner, who specialises in wildlife legislation.

 'It is similar to the ideas tried out in southern Africa to protect wild elephants. There is nothing wrong with trying to make money out of falcons or wildlife. It is how you do it that counts and who gets the proceeds.'  Saker falcons are found in a wide arc across most of inner Asia including parts of China and Mongolia during winter. Samdangiin Banzragch, the director of Mongolia's Environmental Protection Agency, says it is up to the Mongolian government to determine if they are endangered.

 'It is difficult to survey the migratory birds but international research is now in its second year,' he says. 'Last year we found 3,000 couples of Saker falcons, and it is the most abundant species.'  This confidence is not shared by other experts. 'I simply don't believe these figures. Nobody can know. These are migratory birds in a huge area and the numbers are going to vary a lot from year to year,' says Chimed Ochir, the head of the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) office in Mongolia.

 The Ministry of the Environment rejected Mr Parrot's export and conservation plan. This convinced him there was widespread smuggling aided by corrupt government officials who were taking a cut of illegal profits.

 During a press conference in 1997, Mr Parrot publicly charged Environment Minister Adiyasuren, and Boyandelger, the head of the Committee for the Protection of Rare and Endangered Animals, with running a smuggling ring.

 'He was brave enough to say this openly,' says Professor Narangerel Sodovsuren, who defended Mr Parrot in a libel suit which the two officials brought demanding US$100,000 in compensation. The case dragged on for a year with both sides submitting documents. 'Just prior to the court hearing, they dropped their case. This means they were defeated,' says Professor Sodovsuren.

 Mr Parrot's case was helped by the 1996 arrest of the Saudi prince's representative in Singapore with three endangered Mongolian birds he was trying to smuggle out.

 In the meantime, Mr Parrot says, he and his assistants and associates were brutally beaten up and threatened. At one point 20 policemen came to his flat, seized his passport and tried to force him to leave, he says.

 '[Mr Parrot] has also been offered birds left and right; they have probably been trying to set him up,' says lawyer Mr Garner.

 The environment minister, Adiyasuren, subsequently lost his job in a government reshuffle and is now acting as an adviser to the ministry.

  Then came the attack in April, soon after the libel suit was dropped. Mr Parrot was assaulted in his apartment by a group of thugs who came close to killing him.

 Despite the danger, his campaigning is bringing results. Last year the Mongolian government abandoned the export contract with the Saudi prince and suspended the export of any birds. Many people had become suspicious the year before when the Saudis sent a TriStar jet all the way to Mongolia just to pick up a few falcons.

 Although the government is resuming the trade this month, Mr Banzragch of the Environmental Protection Agency, says there will be close government supervision.

 Last month hunters were out catching 40 birds for the Emir of Kuwait, and another 40 for the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates.

 'The whole affair is quite legitimate with internal norms,' Mr Banzragch says. 'I can confidently say there is no large-scale smuggling of illegal falcons although there have been attempts.'  This summer, Mongolian police arrested two men, one from Pakistan, another from Bahrain, who were caught with 10 falcons. Last month, police also arrested Abdul Rahman, an Iranian carrying a diplomatic passport, for allegedly illegally capturing falcons.

 In a large country with loosely controlled borders, catching other smugglers is not easy and the police have difficulty in identifying the species of birds.

 'Falcon smuggling is increasing every year. With people moving across the long borders with Russia and Kazakhstan, it is very difficult to control,' says WWF's Mr Ochir.

 Mr Banzragch insists that the government is doing everything it can and is deeply suspicious of Mr Parrot.

 'He cannot prove his allegations of bribery. I don't know him personally but he is guided by personal business interests rather than protecting birds. I don't believe anyone tried to harm him.' 



The bird man of Ulan Bator