Houbara hunting with falcons becoming too dangerous in a time of regional unrest - in pictures

Scores of wealthy Gulf Arabs descend on Iraq to hunt the houbara bustard, a rare desert bird, with trained falcons through the winter months. But the kidnapping of 26 Qataris in December 2015 in the Iraqi desert while hunting, including members of the country’s royal family, has highlighted the risks of pursuing the “sport of kings” at a time of heightened regional turmoil.