HH Shaikh Khalifa donates 100 falcons to Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition

He has directed that proceeds from the auction will be donated to children with special needs.

H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Emirates Falconers' Club, praised this noble gesture as it was in line with H.H Sheikh Khalifa's support of conservation of falconry as a world cultural heritage. He added that this gesture also reflects H.H Sheikh Khalifa's constant support to cultural, heritage, and environmental projects as well his interest in encouraging sustainable hunting.

H.H Sheikh Hamdan added that, through this gesture, the aim is also to encourage UAE falconers to use captive-bred falcons instead of endangered wild falcons, especially since captive-bred falcons have proven to be as good at hunting as wild falcons.

Thanks to H.H Sheikh Khalifa's initiative, the Falcon Conservation Project 'Pro-Falcon' was established in Al Ain in 1996. It is the first and biggest project of its kind in the Middle East and one of the biggest in the world. Every year, 'Pro-Falcon' breeds, in captivity, hundreds of falcons that deliver stunning hunting performances. Through its unique falcon breeding techniques, natural and artificial breeding, 'Pro-Falcon' has produced many Gyrs, Peregrines, Gyr-Peregrine hybrids, Gyr-Saker hybrids etc, and then trained them on free flying via a studied scientific system. The project played a major role in the almost complete dependence on captive-bred falcons in the deep-rooted sport of falconry in the UAE and the region.

'Pro-Falcon' aims to improve the breeds of captive-bred falcons, and to reduce the threats of the extinction of wild falcons arising from capturing them in the wild to be used in falconry. The project combines Arab-wide experience in breeding falcons with the western advanced technologies, in addition to a team of experts from the UAE and Europe.