The Sheikh Zayed Falcon Releasing Program revealed its success in returning 2,274 peregrine and peregrine falcons to nature over the past thirty years. This year, the program succeeded in releasing 63 falcons in its historic thirtieth session, including 38 peregrine falcons and 25 Saker falcons under the supervision of Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In detail, the late Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan established this program in 1995, which continued annually without interruption under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (may God protect him), and with the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. The Authority supervises the implementation of the program in partnership with the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, with support from the Office of the Special Affairs Advisor – Presidential Office, and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
All falcons of the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Program have undergone a comprehensive set of veterinary examinations and intensive training. In addition to the usual identification rings, electronic chips were implanted for all falcons, and a representative sample of 10 falcons (5 falcons of each type) were equipped with tracking devices connected to satellites whose batteries are powered by solar energy to monitor survival rates, dispersal and migration paths, and collect scientific data that is used to develop methods Qualification, training, release, and selection of suitable sites for falcons.
Commenting on this new achievement of the program on its thirtieth anniversary, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, said: “Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates continue to lead in preserving nature and protecting species of life.” “Innate nature, in particular the globally recognized efforts to conserve falcons, bustards and other wildlife species of ecological, cultural and historical importance, in order to increase the opportunities available to them to overcome threats to their survival and prosperity in the wild, in pursuit of the sustainability of the historical heritage of falconry.”
Al Bowardi recalled the establishment of this program thirty years ago, noting that despite the ease of keeping falcons year-round in recent times thanks to scientific progress and improved economic conditions, the founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) was committed to The tradition of our fathers and grandfathers releasing wild falcons after the end of the hunting season, out of belief in the importance of this tradition in preserving these species and protecting them from extinction. Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy on him, was not satisfied with reviving this sustainable tradition, but rather initiated an institutional program for releasing falcons thirty years ago. It is not limited to returning wild falcons to their remote habitats in Kazakhstan, China, Russia, and other migration and breeding areas, but his role also includes rehabilitating them to adapt to… Wildlife and conducting scientific studies and research to know their biological characteristics, habitats and migration paths.
Al Bowardi pointed out that, in addition to the continuation of Sheikh Zayed’s program to release falcons annually without interruption, the initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (may God protect him) to protect wildlife and help preserve the natural balance of the earth, continue, with God’s grace. In this regard, which included, but was not limited to, reducing the effects of electric shock on falcons and other birds of prey in Mongolia, where the risk of electrocution on 27,000 electricity poles was reduced, which helped save an estimated 18,000 birds of prey annually, including approximately 4,000 Saker Falcons are threatened with electric shock. 5,000 artificial nests for falcons were also created in Mongolia, and it is estimated that these nests will contribute to the production of 25,000 Saker falcon chicks within 15 years, which will boost their numbers in the wild. A joint project is also being implemented in Bulgaria with the Green Balkans organization to help Saker Falcons reproduce in artificial nests that constitute automatic launching pads for them within their natural habitats, with the aim of restoring their deteriorating population in the southern Balkans since the end of the last century.
In a related development, the Mohammed bin Zayed Fund for the Conservation of Birds of Prey is cooperating with the Al Shaheen Fund in the United States of America to assess the effects of climate change on Arctic birds of prey, including estimating survival rates and protection priorities for the peregrine falcon in North America. We also continue to work with other partners from around the world to develop new projects to achieve comprehensive strategic results and develop local capabilities in raptor research and conservation methods.
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