At the forefront of these activities is the contest of the most beautiful and biggest falcons raised in captivity (hybrid) which will be organized by the Emirates Falconers Club during ADIHEX. The contest is aimed at encouraging falconers to use hybrid falcons as a suitable alternative to protect wild falcons in the wilderness. It is a unique contest at the world level and is directed at the owners of farms where falcons are raised in the Arabian Gulf and the World. To be chosen through the contest will be the biggest and most beautiful hybrid falcon of Gyr Hurr type, the biggest and the most beautiful falcon of Gyr Shahin, and the biggest and most beautiful of male Gyr. This will take place according to special criteria and conditions set by falconers and experts in this field.
This contest has gained a great worldwide fame, attracted several breeding farms of falcons in the Gulf region and the World, and won the appreciation of regional and international bodies concerned with the safeguarding of heritage and protection of environment.
“Given the many dangers wild falcons were exposed to until they became threatened with extinction to a great extent, late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless his soul, launched several pioneering international initiatives for the protection of the types threatened with extinction, including his annual initiative for the release of wild falcons,” said the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee His Excellency Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Advisor for Culture and Heritage at the Court of His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Director-General of ADACH.
“Sheikh Zayed encouraged falconers to move from using wild falcons to hybrid falcons raised in captivity. By 2002, the UAE falconers were relying by 90% on falcons raised in captivity which made the UAE the first country to fully rely on the use of falcons raised in captivity in the sport of hunting with falcons. This reduced the pressure wild falcons were facing; hunting them and preventing them from increasing their numbers,” added Mazrouei.
“The goals of the contest also include encouraging the experts in raising falcons to produce bigger and more beautiful falcons in terms of feathers and colour,” said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIHEX.
He underlined that the hybrid falcons are today considered to be distinguished in terms of performance and shape in the eye of the fans of this sport in the various parts of the world.
“This negates the need for hunting wild falcons and offers them the opportunity to proliferate and increase their numbers,” he emphasized.
Al Qubaisi pointed out that the UAE has a leading status at the world level in the field of raising falcons as Abu Dhabi and the other emirates produced some of the best falcons in the world.
He expected that the new session of ADIHEX to see a strong competition for the choice of the most beautiful and biggest falcons as diverse strains of hybrid falcons from various areas around the world will be shown in the new session.
