UAE falcons issued passports

The large demand for falcons to be used for falconry has encouraged such a trade in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The WWF-UAE Project Office has helped the UAE CITES Management Authorities create the passport system in order to regulate falconry as well as trade in falcons.

Falconry: a traditional sport

The falcon has been trapped in the Middle East region for centuries. Bedouin tribes of the past used the bird for hunting game that formed a nutritionally important part of their diet. Today, it may no longer be used out of necessity, but the falcon remains an integral part of the Arab's lifestyle and tradition since falconry is an important sporting activity.

Illegal trade

While the trapping of passage falcons by tribes remained sustainable in past years, recent times have seen their numbers decline, largely on account of over trapping. As a result, certain falcon species are becoming increasingly rare in the wild. These include saker falcon (Falco chernig), peregrine falcon (Falco cherrug perigrinus) and gyr falcon (Falco rusticolus) - the three most commonly used in falconry. These species are listed in CITES Appendix I or II in which commercial trade is either not allowed or allowed only with CITES permit.

Although it's clandestine nature makes quantification of the illegal trade difficult it can be safely assumed that saker, peregrine and gyr falcons are the most targeted for the black market. High demand coupled with increasing rarity in the wild has made the trade more profitable.

Falcon Passport

With the intention of dramatically reducing the illegal trade in falcons, a passport system has been launched in the UAE. The system is linked with a falcon registration process that was put into place in late 2002 with the help of WWF UAE and the CITES Secretariat.

Depending on the CITES Appendix a falcon is listed under, it is registered and granted a Falcon Passport to ease frequent movement across borders for purposes of falconry. The UAE CITES Management Authorities are responsible for registering falcons and issuing passports. Only if the birds are legally obtained and carry necessary permits, especially CITES permits, can they be registered for passports in government facilities.

'Today no falcons can be taken abroad by their owners unless they are in possession of passports for their birds. The Falcon Passport provides a legal structure that complies with CITES and, at the same time, provides falconers with a permissible, easy-to-use way to participate in the traditional sport of falconry,' says Dr. Frederic Launay, Director, WWF UAE Project Office.