Falconry

This is Shaikh Hamad's Falcon Palace, where he has more than 30+ of these beautiful birds. One can see the shrubs pruned in the shape of falcons.

Falconry (hunting with falcons) is a sport for the rich. A well-trained falcon can cost up to $15,000. Falconry is part of the deep-rooted heritage of the Middle East, harking back to a time when falcons were used by Bedouins to catch hares for food. In the modern age, however, the birds are almost exclusively used for sport. The importance of conservation has become inextricably intertwined with preserving this heritage, as only by protecting these beautiful birds can the legacy continue.