Journalists get a peek at falcon hospital

Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) organised a Media Tour to Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) on Thursday, bringing together journalists from various mass media organisations in the UAE. It was organised within the framework of the Agency's Media Tour Programme launched in 2006 to aid local, regional and international journalists in sending the environmental protection message to the public.

Majid Al Mansouri, EAD's Secretary General, said ADFH is a largest falcon hospital in the world, providing comprehensive veterinary care to falcons, other species of raptors and all other birds as a self sustaining entity.

He said the Hospital offers different comprehensive services. It also rehabilitates confiscated falcons and other raptors and re-introduces wild falcons to the wild through the late Shaikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme.

The ADFH laboratory also works as the Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory for the Emirate and other lab services to external customers. It serves as Avian Influenza quarantine for falcons for Abu Dhabi Emirate and promotes disease awareness and prevention campaigns.

First public falcon hospital in UAE

Dr Margit Muller, Director of ADFH who accompanied the journalists on tour, said ADFH, is the first public falcon hospital in the United Arab Emirates.

Opened on October 3, 1999, as an affiliate to the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, it has become the largest falcon hospital in the UAE with more than 31,500 patient visits in its first nine years.