In its 30th edition this year, the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme has released 63 falcons under the supervision of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee in the Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture. This release occurred within the migratory range of these falcons, spanning Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Mongolia, and neighbouring regions characterised by rugged mountains and expansive plains, offering ideal habitats abundant with prey on which falcons can feed. Out of 63 falcons, 38 were Peregrine falcons and 25 were Saker falcons.
The initiative, originally founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1995, has reintroduced a total of 2,274 falcons into their natural habitat. This ongoing effort is now under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and is overseen by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD).
His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of EAD and Vice Chairman of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, said, "Abu Dhabi and the UAE continue to lead nature conservation and protection of wildlife, in particular the internationally acclaimed efforts to conserve falcons, houbara and other wildlife species of ecological, cultural and historical importance. This is in order to increase their opportunities to overcome threats to their survival and prosper in the wild, in our pursuit of sustaining the historical heritage of falconry."
His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi commended the successful partnership that helped in the success of the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme and expressed his gratitude to the Kazakhstan authorities for their contribution and efforts in facilitating the joint team's work to implement the programme.
How Does The Release Programme Works
Every falcon in the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme undergoes thorough veterinary checks and rigorous training. Alongside standard identification rings, all falcons receive implanted electronic chips. A selected group of 10 falcons (five of each type) are equipped with satellite-linked tracking devices powered by solar energy. These measures facilitate ongoing monitoring of survival rates, migration paths, and dispersal patterns, gathering essential scientific data to enhance rehabilitation, training, release methods, and the selection of optimal habitats for falcons annually.