Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH)
مستشفى أبو ظبي للصقور
Geography
Location Abu Dhabi, UAE
Coordinates Coordinates: 24°24′27″N 54°41′55″E / 24.40750°N 54.69861°E / 24.40750; 54.69861
Organisation
Care system veterinary
History
Founded 1999
Links
Website www.falconhospital.com

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the world's foremost falcon welfare institution,[1][2] and the first of its kind.[3] It opened on 3 October 1999, as an affiliate of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, since when it has been directed by German veterinary surgeon Dr Margit Gabriele Müller and has become one of the largest avian hospitals.[4]

The hospital operates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.[5] It has proven itself one of Abu Dhabi's major tourist attractions.[6][7] In 2010 it was visited by U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson.[5]

Description

The hospital has individual air-conditioned rooms for over 200 birds. Each year about 6,000 falcons enter its care.[8] It offers annual check-ups because it is often difficult to recognise whether a falcon has a health issue.[9] The staff is experienced in treating everything they might diagnose. Even the birds' feathers are carefully scrutinised. As visitors learn during the popular tours a falcon's flight gets significantly unbalanced when they lose even a single flight feather. Consequently it is standard treatment to repair or substitute lost feathers by those kept in stock.[10]

Passports

Since the United Arab Emirates introduced falcon passports it is the ADFH's prerogative to issue them.[11]

Animal Shelter

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital also manages an animal shelter. This is based on the approval of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council of the Abu Dhabi government.[12] The facility can accommodate hundreds of stray dogs and cats.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the premier institution world-wide for falcon medicine and research in falcon's diseases". Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  2. ↑ MACEACHERAN, MIKE. "the Falcon Hospital has won six international awards for its education initiatives.". Silverkris. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  3. ↑ Dunlop, W.G. (2010-02-08). ""This hospital is the largest falcon hospital in the whole world," says its director, German veterinarian Margit Muller. "It was the first public falcon hospital," she adds.". www.telegraph.co.uk. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  4. ↑ "This unusual avian hospital is the biggest of its kinds in the world". The New Zealand Herald. Auckland. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  5. 1 2 "U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson visited the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital". The Embassy of the United States in Abu Dhabi Homepage. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  6. ↑ "The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has become one of the main tourism attractions in Abu Dhabi". Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  7. ↑ Jaffer, Amin. "Anyone interested in the culture of the Emirates should tour the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, a veterinary facility that explains the region's noble culture of falconry to visitors". Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  8. ↑ Muller, Jon. "the hospital can accommodate more than 200 falcons at the same time, housed in individual air-conditioned rooms, and treats about 6,000 patients a year.". Abu Dhabi Week. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Jody (2011-05-31). "Run by the charismatic German, Dr Margit Muller, the hospital has encouraged Emiratis to bring in their birds for annual checkups.". Mail Online. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  10. ↑ Eagles, Jim. ""If they lose a feather," our guide explained, "their flight is unbalanced. We keep a supply of spare feathers here in case the missing one cannot be recovered."". The Northern Star. Lismore, New South Wales. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  11. ↑ "The falcon registration forms are available at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, which is the only hospital in the UAE entirely dedicated to treating falcons that have been injured or are in poor health. It is the only hospital authorised to issue falcon passports.". Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  12. ↑ "The Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter for stray cats and dogs for Abu Dhabi Emirate has been established following the decision of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council of Abu Dhabi government on 15th April 2010.". Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter Homepage. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  13. ↑ Baz, Karl. "The ADFH makes room for hundreds of homeless animals". Time Out Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 2012-05-08.

External links

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