Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme: Over 2,400 Falcons Released Since 1995

Guided by the vision and continued support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the nation continues to advance wildlife conservation and environmental protection through an integrated system of institutions and initiatives that combine the preservation of national heritage with modern scientific and environmental practices.

These efforts are rooted in the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who made environmental and wildlife protection a cornerstone of the nation’s development. Inspired by this vision, the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme (SZFRP) was established to return wild falcons to their natural habitats and reinforce their role in maintaining ecological balance. The programme reflects the principle that preserving heritage is closely linked to protecting the environment from which it emerged.

Since its establishment in 1995, the programme has released over 2,400 Saker and Peregrine falcons into their natural habitats across Central Asia and along Peregrine migratory routes towards Siberia. This achievement reflects the UAE’s long-standing commitment to wildlife conservation and to promoting more sustainable and responsible falconry practices.

The UAE’s efforts extend beyond releasing falcons into the wild. They also include supporting captive-breeding programmes and encouraging their use in sustainable hunting, helping to reduce pressure on wild populations while preserving falconry as an important cultural heritage based on awareness and responsibility. In this context, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan established the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund, which plays a pivotal role in protecting raptors and their natural habitats. In Mongolia, the Fund’s artificial nest project contributes between 2,000 and 3,000 falcons annually, while other initiatives have helped protect an estimated 18,000 birds of prey each year, including approximately 4,000 Saker falcons, by reducing the risk of electrocution on power transmission lines.

His Highness’s vision has also helped transform falconry from a traditional practice into a sustainable model that balances heritage preservation with environmental stewardship. This approach is built on awareness and education, the use of captive-bred falcon, and the regulation of their trade in accordance with scientific and veterinary standards that support species conservation and the sustainability of the practice.

The Mohamed bin Zayed School of Falconry and Desert Lore was established as an educational and cultural platform to pass on the knowledge and values of falconry to new generations, while fostering respect for the environment and wildlife. The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) represents another example of this vision. It has become one of the world’s leading institutions specialising in Houbara breeding and conservation, with annual production approaching 100,000 birds, supporting release programmes in the wild and sustainable hunting practices.

His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAD and the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund, said: “The programme demonstrates that preserving heritage extends beyond celebrating it. It also means developing it in ways that align with environmental and ethical values. It reinforces our responsibility towards nature and presents a UAE model that combines the preservation of heritage with the protection of wildlife and its sustainability for future generations.”

His Excellency commended the partnership between EAD, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, and the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH), with the support of the Presidential Court and the Embassy of the UAE in the Republic of Kazakhstan. He affirmed that this collaboration has been a key factor in the programme’s success.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the relevant authorities there for their role in facilitating the implementation of the programme and supporting its field operations.

This year, the programme continued in Kazakhstan for the eighteenth consecutive year, with 49 Saker and Peregrine falcons released in diverse natural areas that include plains and highlands within Saker falcon habitats and along the seasonal migration routes of Peregrine falcons heading towards Siberia.

Twenty falcons were fitted with satellite-tracking devices, including models that proved effective in previous years and newer, lighter models, to collect scientific data on survival rates, dispersal, and migration routes. This information will contribute to the continued development of rehabilitation and release methods. All falcons were also fitted with electronic microchips and identification rings to enable monitoring in accordance with the highest scientific standards.

The programme reflects a comprehensive vision that extends beyond the protection of falcons and Houbara to promote falconry as a practice that brings together respect for nature, biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of wildlife. The UAE’s approach affirms that falconry is not merely an inherited tradition, but an evolving practice founded on balance, responsibility and a commitment to protecting wildlife for future generations.

Although satellite-tracking devices had indicated in previous years that some falcons migrated north to breed in Siberia, this marks the first time this has been confirmed through direct field observation. Russian scientists recorded the nesting of a female Peregrine falcon and successfully monitored the successive stages of egg-laying, hatching, and the mother’s care of her chicks on the Taz Peninsula in Siberia. Identification markings confirmed that this female was among the falcons released in Kazakhstan through the programme.

This discovery is consistent with satellite-tracking data and confirms the ability of released falcons to adapt, survive, and return to suitable breeding habitats. It provides further evidence of the programme’s long-term conservation impact and highlights the importance of international cooperation in protecting falcons and other threatened species.