• The Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme has released 52 falcons into the wild in Kazakhstan. All photos: Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
    The Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme has released 52 falcons into the wild in Kazakhstan. All photos: Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
  • The release saw 23 peregrine falcons and 29 saker falcons returned to the wild to help boost their numbers.
    The release saw 23 peregrine falcons and 29 saker falcons returned to the wild to help boost their numbers.
  • The birds of prey have been trained to cope with life in the wild and received extensive medical tests before their release.
    The birds of prey have been trained to cope with life in the wild and received extensive medical tests before their release.
  • Eleven of the birds were fitted with solar-powered satellite tracking devices to monitor survival rates, distribution and migration paths.
    Eleven of the birds were fitted with solar-powered satellite tracking devices to monitor survival rates, distribution and migration paths.
  • Kazakhstan was chosen because it is a key stop-off on the birds' migratory route south from Russia for winter and their return north in spring.
    Kazakhstan was chosen because it is a key stop-off on the birds' migratory route south from Russia for winter and their return north in spring.
  • The Kazakh habitat of steppe, lakes and mountains provides ideal hunting grounds for the falcons.
    The Kazakh habitat of steppe, lakes and mountains provides ideal hunting grounds for the falcons.
  • Established in 1995 by UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the programme has returned 2,211 falcons to the wild.
    Established in 1995 by UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the programme has returned 2,211 falcons to the wild.
  • Sheikh Zayed was dedicated to the conservation of the birds.
    Sheikh Zayed was dedicated to the conservation of the birds.

UAE

UAE releases 52 falcons in Kazakhstan under conservation programme

The Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme has rewilded 2,211 birds since inception

The National

June 30, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE has released 52 falcons into the wild in Kazakhstan to help sustain the species.

The birds were rewilded as part of the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme, a long-standing conservation programme that began about 30 years ago.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, which supervises the programme, said 23 Peregrine falcons and 29 Saker falcons were released on May 5 and May 6 this year in the Karaganda region – a key region for migrating falcons.

The birds underwent a full range of medical examinations and extensive training, and received their final tests on the morning of the launch.

Each was implanted with an electronic chip and fitted with an identification ring.

Eleven falcons were also fitted with solar-powered satellite tracking devices to monitor survival rates, spread and traditional migration paths.

The devices also collect scientific data to develop methods of preparation, rehabilitation, training, release and selection of suitable sites for falcons.

Previous tracking data showed that the Karaganda region was popular with falcons released by the programme in the past.

The agency said Kazakhstan provided an ideal location for the release of falcons due to its mountains and plains that are host to prey essential for falcons to thrive.

The Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme has rewilded a total of 2,211 birds so far.

This year's release was the 14th consecutive event in Kazakhstan. The total number of birds released in the country so far has reached 911 – comprising 293 Saker falcons and 618 Peregrine falcons.

The birds were released under the supervision of the forests and wildlife committee in the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture.

“Aligning with the directives of the UAE leadership, Abu Dhabi continues its pioneering global efforts in preserving nature and protecting wildlife,” said Mohammed Al Bowardi, vice chairman of the agency and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation.

“This includes our exceptional endeavours to preserve falcons, houbara and other wildlife of environmental, cultural and historical importance.

“As a result, we have succeeded in increasing their chances of overcoming risks threatening their survival and prosperity in nature.”

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Updated: June 30, 2023, 12:36 PM
Abu DhabiKazakhstan