Our earth?s biodiversity is at threat and species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate.  In the past century the rate of species extinction has increased a hundred fold and all efforts must be made to stop this.

The heartening thing is that there are several examples of biodiversity conservation which one can learn from and emulate. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is one such shining example.

Falcons are majestic birds of prey and have a very special significance here in the UAE as it is the National bird and also one of the National symbols. In some other countries , this majestic bird has appeared on the IUCN list of endangered species due to various human induced factors , primary amongst which is habitat destruction .

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the largest falcon hospital in the world and since its inception in 1999 has treated over 55,000 numbers , which has gone a long way in keeping this magnificent species safe and thriving.

As part of an awareness drive  about biodiversity conservation , our group, Green Hope UAE were given the opportunity of a guided tour to this  Falcon Hospital . It was an amazing learning journey for all of us .

We were guided through the nesting zones , the clinics , the ICU and given a detailed tour of how the hospital provides world class facilities to the falcons. Having the falcons perch on our hands was a spine tingling experience. We were shown mainly 3 kinds of falcons – the Saker , Siberian and the Perigreen species. The perigreen falcon is the smallest amongst the three and is reputed to be the fastest bird at times. The Siberian falcon with its snow white plumage is truly magnificent and can cost more than USD100,000/- .

The vets at the hospital allowed us to witness how they took care of the falcons. The procedure starts with tranquilising the bird with the help of a hood through which the anaesthetic gas flows.

Once the gas takes effect , the vets file its talons and beak , clean its tongue and check its body and plumage for any damage and infections . The care and expertise demonstrated by the vets was truly remarkable and a lesson for us  who witnessed it during the visit.

Some of these magnificent falcons also have their own passports which were shown to us by the tour guide.

In conclusion , this visit was a lesson for us on how biodiversity conservation can work effectively and successfully.