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UAE: Treating falcons with top flight care

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  • UAE: Treating falcons with top flight care

    Abu Dhabi: As you enter this hospital, you cannot help but notice the unconventional interior in the reception area: plush green sofas arranged close to walls and green, covered perches in the centre of the room.

    The perches are for the winged patients at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH), where they wait their turn to see the doctor. These falcons also have their own passports.

    The Hospital is managed by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) and is the first public hospital for falcons in the UAE. The hospital also plays a key role in the government's monitoring of bird flu.

    Emergency

    I was exploring the hospital's museum with Dr Margit Gabriele Muller, director of the hospital, when an emergency case was rushed in and we were asked to get ready for surgery.

    The operating theatre was surprisingly similar to those found in human hospitals, and in there was a falcon, coughing continuously. After the bird had been sedated with an anaesthetic, a small area of feathers was removed and an endoscope pushed through the skin. Looking at a screen above us, the reason for the coughing became obvious: something was stuck in the bird's lungs.

    The endoscope showed that a live worm was causing the problem. Through the same incision, Dr Muller used another tool to remove the worm. "Worms enter a falcon's body when it consume infected insects. This is very common disease", she said, adding that the birds sometime have to be hospitalised.

    Falcons come into the hospital for a range of reasons, including routine check-ups, vaccination or mild health problems. During training and hunting sessions, accidents often happen, and surgery is available for falcons with broken legs or wings.

    Sensitive

    The falcon patients are always hooded while they wait for the doctor to examine them. "Falcons usually protest the presence of other falcons," said Dr Muller. "They are very sensitive birds."

    The hospital opened in 1999 and is the largest falcon hospital in the world, with more than 27,000 patients over the past eight years. Falcons from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain also visit the hospital regularly. Each year nearly 4,500 falcons are treated here.

    Pre-purchase examinations are done at the hospital to help buyers ensure the health of falcons for sale. Nowadays only captive-bred falcons are allowed in the UAE.

    To help regulate the trade, falcon passports were introduced in 2002. ADFH issues these passports, which contain details about the falcon and its owner.

    In addition to a well equipped laboratory, the hospital has moulting facilities with two large free-flight cages where the falcons are kept away from undesirable human contact. The moulting pattern is closely monitored and falcons are kept on a special high-quality nutrition.

    Deep insight

    After being featured on television and in media publications worldwide, an influx of tourists persuaded the hospital to open its doors to visitors this year.

    The tours help the tourists get a deep insight into the world of falcons.
    "The care given to the falcons is unparalleled. It was an amazing experience I will never forget," David Greco, a tourist from Canada, wrote in the guest book.

    The guided tours at ADFH, which should be booked few days in advance, are held in English, French, German and Arabic and are priced from Dh120-200 per person.

    For more details visit www.falconhospital.com
    http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles.../10179503.html

    "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation
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