HOUBARA AR ENGLISH 9APRIL (Spread)

ANNUAL REPORT

2018-2019





“On land and in the sea,
our forefathers lived and survived

in this environment.
They were able to do so only because they

recognised the need to conserve it,
to take from it only what they

needed to live, and to preserve it for
succeeding generations.”

The Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

The Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates

“A development that does not
integrate the cultural dimension

is not sustainable.
The integration of culture into our

development strategies is
a key factor in our success.”

H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

President of the UAE & Ruler of Abu Dhabi

“We have to ensure
the new generation is equipped with

knowledge and science
so they can represent our

competitive advantage
in front of the whole world.
Our only choice is quality.”

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
and Chairman of the Board of International Fund for Houbara Conservation



Table of Content

Deputy Chairman’s Message 12 In-country Ecology 30

IFHC Achievements 2019 14 ​ Kazakhstan
​ Morocco
Conservation Education: 16 UAE

the Houbara Model Notes from the Field 31
Education
Middle East Falconry Archive (MEFA) 32
A Year of Milestones 17
Tribute to Patrick Paillat 33
Knowledge Transfer 20
The Year Ahead 34
​ Creating a pathway for UAE Talent
Internship Programme

International Collaborations 22

​​​Russia
Spain
​​India

Conservation Progress & 24
Scientific Updates

​​Range-wide initiatives
​ Annual breeding and release
Houbara migration discovery
​ Rebalancing wild populations
Global survey Autumn count
Nest survey
Pre-release surveys
Individual monitoring
Evaluation of Houbara habitat
Genetics
Great Indian Bustard

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

In line with the vision of our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, the Abu Undoubtedly, our new partnerships will take our global leadership to more ter-
Dhabi Houbara Conversation Programme over the past four decades has worked ritories and unprecedented levels in research and development, enhancing our
with great effort and determination towards successfully establishing a pioneer- expertise in various fields of work. It is heartening that more and more countries,
ing global model for pre-emptive species conservation. That unwavering commit- governments, NGOs and individuals are increasingly becoming aware of the im-
ment has succeeded in bringing together more individuals and societies, fostering portance of wildlife conservation.
greater collaboration to achieve our valuable goal to protect habitats and restore
the ecosystem. We have made significant progress in conservation education. In partnership with
the UAE Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and
Our efforts to enhance international cooperation have led to the release of Hou- Knowledge, and with great nationwide support from education departments,
bara in 14 countries across the species’ migratory range, from Mongolia in the teachers and enthusiastic students in UAE, our educational programme ‘Conser-
east to Morocco in the west. In 2019, IFHC signed three new international agree- vation Education: the Houbara Model’ was implemented in more than 40 schools
ments, building on the success of the ground-breaking summits ‘Conservation and has engaged more than 36,000 students.
Through Government Action’ and ‘A Summit for the Flyways’, in 2018, which
gathered 200 conservationists from more than 70 countries, in Abu Dhabi. The future is in the hands of the youth. It is imperative we continue leading in
various fields in order to preserve the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan
Al Nahyan, under the wise leadership of UAE President, His Highness Sheikh
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forces and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Fund
for Houbara Conservation.

We will continue to develop breeding programmes across the range and enhance
release initiatives in the wild. To date, the number of Houbara bred in our centres
in Abu Dhabi, Morocco and Kazakhstan has reached more than 480,000. More
than 285,000 Houbara have been released into the wild and this number contin-
ues to increase year after year.

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi
Deputy Chairman of IFHC Board

12

“Undoubtedly, our new partnerships will take our global 480,000 IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
leadership to more territories and unprecedented levels
in research and development, enhancing our expertise BRED
in various fields of work. It is heartening that more and
more countries, governments, NGOs and 285,000
individuals are increasingly becoming aware of released
the importance of wildlife conservation”

13

IFHC Achievements 2019

Conservation and preservation Major advancements and partnerships
reaching new heights for the education programme

36,000 40

STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THE NEW SCHOOLS ENROLLED
PROGRAMME AND ITS IN THE IFHC EDUCATION
INNOVATIVE LEARNING
MODEL PROGRAMME

64,316 21,972

HOUBARA CHICKS HOUBARA
BRED IN ALL CENTRES RELEASED

18 9

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS GREAT INDIAN
BUSTARD EGGS HATCHED
6
IN CAPTIVITY
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 NEW BREEDING 12
CENTRE
BRAND AMBASSADORS
SHEIKH KHALIFA HOUBARA TRAINED
BREEDING CENTRE
IN KAZAKHSTAN

BRED MORE THAN 7,000 BIRDS

14

IFHC leading efforts in international and
local cooperation

4 MOUs SIGNED IFHC AND ZHOPD
LOCALLY AND SIGNED 5-YEAR
INTERNATIONALLY
PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE
CONSERVATION EDUCATION

12 COUNTRIES 9 REPRESENTATIVES
ENGAGED IN FROM RANGE COUNTRIES
COLLABORATIVE
ATTENDED 4 GLOBAL
EFFORTS SURVEY WORKSHOPS

15 IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

CTHOENHSEORUVBAATRIOANMEODDUECLATION:

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 Education In 2019, the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’, the Fund
attained another education milestone when it
Our three-pillared, cross-curricular ‘Conserva- initiated a five-year partnership with the Zayed
tion Education: the Houbara Model’ programme Higher Organization for People of Determination
has achieved significant success since its integra- (ZHOPD) to inspire people of determination to be-
tion into the national school curriculum in Octo- come conservation leaders.
ber 2018.
Fostering a culture of inclusivity in species con-
Aimed at educating our youth towards a sus- servation, IFHC will implement ‘Conservation
tainable future, the programme has engaged Education: the Houbara Model’ across ZHOPD’s
more than 36,000 students in 40 schools across 18 centres in the UAE, which provide a range of
all Emirates. The programme emphasises the services and humanitarian care for 1,650 people
importance of conservation of this emblematic of determination.
species, its habitat and its vital role in the UAE’s
ecosystem and heritage. As part of the pro- With a focus on interactive learning, ZHOPD stu-
gramme, IFHC also took a leadership stance in dents have produced 1,000 messenger bags for
becoming the first external entity to host expe- IFHC as part of their vocational training. They are
riential workshops at the Sheikh Zayed Learning also providing sign language for our educational
Centre in collaboration with Al Ain Zoo. videos and will participate in IFHC events.

The workshops demonstrate our commitment The next phase of educational development will
to delivering a blended learning approach that see us create an online teaching community as
builds on the wisdom of the late Sheikh Zayed well as an application for young learners. We
and the UAE Government’s ambitions to create are also exploring the possibility of rolling out
tomorrow’s leaders through education and initi- the programme across Houbara range coun-
atives such as the National Environmental Edu- tries leveraging its adaptability for international
cation & Awareness Strategy 2015 - 2021. Our audiences.
innovative methodology integrates technology
tools, such as gamification, into the classroom
to equip learners with 21st Century skills.

16

A YEAR OF MILESTONES

Engaged 36,000+ students

Supported 40 schools 7

Integrated 8 content areas Emirates

Trained 152 teachers and 40
assigned 358 Houbara coordinators
schools
Organised 8 student workshops
and initiated 6 collaborations 36,000 +
students
Striving to sustain and preserve the
UAE’s natural heritage by providing
rich educational experiences for the
next generation of conservationists

Our partners IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

17

7 PILOT SCHOOLS IN 2018

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 • Al Ittihad Private School • Aspen Heights British School
• Al Shawamekh School • Al Nahda National School for Girls
• Al Jana’aen School • Abdulla Bin Otaiba School
• Al Taleea School

18

40 SCHOOLS IN 2019

ABU DHABI DUBAI AJMAN IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

Al Shawamekh School Al Ahmadiya School Sheikha Bint Saeed School
City of Baniyas School Al Ittihad Private School First Private Academy

Al Marwah School Al Mizhar School Scientific Institute for Secondary Education
Abdulla Bin Otaiba School Maria School
FUJAIRAH
Al Reem School Al Ebdaa Modern School
Al Asayel School Hamdan Bin Rashid High School Knowledge School
Al Huiteen School Anas Bin Alnader Boys School
Omamah Bint Al Harith School Al Waha Oasis Girls School St. Mary’s Catholic High School
Abu Dhabi International Private School Umm Suqeim Model Girls School
Aspen Heights British Intl Private School Al-Khalifah Al-Rashideen Boys School RAS AL KHAIMAH
Nahda Private School for Girls
Al Bashair School SHARJAH Fatima Bint Mubarak Girls School
Al Ittihad Private School
Emirates National School Al Hoor Girls School
India International School
AL AIN
English School
Al Taleea School Sharjah International Private School
Al Jana’aen Girls School International School of Creative Science
Liwa International Private School
UMM AL QUWAIN

Al Abraq School
Falaj Al Mualla Girls School

19

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 Ktrnaonwslfeedr ge

Creating A Pathway
for UAE Talent

Acknowledging the crucial role UAE youth will play in setting
tomorrow’s conservation agenda, and in line with our strategy
of preparing them for this essential task, we launched the IFHC
Emirati Talent Development and Knowledge Transfer Programme.
This tailored internship scheme is designed to provide graduates
with practical conservation experience and inspire the next gen-
eration of environmental guardians, all by focusing on the impor-
tance of Houbara in regional ecosystems and its impact on Emirati
heritage.

In partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education
& Knowledge and Reneco International Wildlife Consultants,
the programme gives Emirati graduates and master’s students
hands-on experience in key focus areas of species conservation,
including scientific research into species behaviours and habitat,
veterinarian science, ecological studies and other operational
aspects.

The multi-disciplinary internships aim to foster a better understand-
ing of conservation career options in biology, genetics, physiology,
reproduction and captive breeding, to ecology and the reinforce-
ment of wild populations, or veterinary medicine and specialist
publications.

20

“As students of environmental science and IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
sustainability, we are grateful to IFHC for
giving us an unprecedented opportunity
to witness world-class species conservation
firsthand. This experience was invaluable
in assisting our academic and professional

development, and also helped on a
personal level. Studying and learning
about the importance of conservation

is one thing, seeing it all in action
is a whole new level”

Alanood Mohammed and Rowdha Al Mansoori
The first two students to complete the programme

INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

In striving to ensure effective knowledge transfer and an optimum
learning environment for our interns, they are given invaluable time
with IFHC scientists and researchers in our facilities. They study a
range of topics covering the full spectrum of breeding and ecology.
Those topics include food distribution, assessment of Houbara egg
membrane integrity and the study of specimen quality. The stu-
dents are given an in-depth introduction to veterinary techniques
and discover activities and processes in the food production sector.

Launched in 2019, the Emirati Talent Development and Knowledge
Transfer programme has attracted a great level of interest, with our
first cohort showing enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Such a
desire to get involved with species conservation points to an excit-
ing future for the programme with the interns sharing their experi-
ences and transferring knowledge with their peers.

21

International collaborations

On the international front, we have capitalised on the success of our 2018 ‘A Summit for the Flyways’ and ‘Conservation Through Government Action’
summits in Abu Dhabi to engage more overseas species conservation communities in line with our strategy of deepening global partnerships.

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 Russia Spain

We have taken a great stride with international col- We have now entered a long-term partnership
laboration and are now working with the All-Rus- with the northern Spanish region of Castilla y Leon
sian Institute for Environmental Protection and Ub- to ascertain the ecological status of the Little Bus-
sunorskaya Kotlovina Biosphere Reserve to study tard with the aim of taking the study nationwide.
and restore the Asian Houbara bustard population
in Tuva Republic, in southern Siberia. Our collaborative efforts recorded a major mile-
stone. Working with the Castilla y Leon Natural
The partnership, which is focused on observing and Heritage Foundation, we provided scientific excel-
restoring wild Houbara populations, has resulted lence and decades of species conservation knowl-
in a first-of-its-kind study into the species’ popula- edge to the first phase of the project to evaluate
tion in the Tuva Republic, which borders Mongolia Little Bustard numbers in the region and their cur-
and comprises the extreme northern range of the rent status and behaviour.
species.
The research project continues across three main
The crucial study will help us obtain invaluable in- sites, each spanning approximately 10,000 ha,
sight into the numbers and behaviour of Asian Hou- where crucial data is being collated on the Little
bara and Asian Great bustards in the Tuva’s Uvs Bustard, including its habitat quality, behaviour
Lake Basin area with its well-developed system of and breeding.
biotopes, known to host these species, which pre-
sents a potential opportunity for their conservation. The research sites are:
• The Villafafila Reserve, a protected area under
The initial one-year project will hopefully be a
springboard to extended cooperation that will steppe bird-oriented management
incorporate the Mongolian Uvs Nuur Basin Bio-
sphere Reserve. The objective is to protect the • Tierra de Campos, an unprotected area of inten-
landscape and biodiversity of the ecosystems, sive agriculture in northern Vallodolid province
with the release of captive-bred Houbara to rebal-
ance wild populations in the region. • Southern Leon and La Baneza in the province
of Leon

22

India IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

At the request of the Wildlife Institute of India, through the conser-
vation department of the state of Rajasthan, we are collaborating on
a project to save the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican from
extinction.
The two species are listed as highly threatened. With only 160
birds remaining in the wild in India, we are taking a significant
role on the steering committee, which will define the conservation
approach.
Lending our global expertise, we have begun driving conser-
vation methods in Rajasthan with our scientific team track-
ing wild populations of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser
Florican in their natural habitat, collecting crucial data such as behav-
iour, sightings and nesting.
Following the implementation of our breeding and release pro-
gramme in India, we have already recorded the hatchings of nine
Great Indian Bustard eggs, marking the beginning of a new era in
species conservation.

23

CScoinesnteirfvicatuipodnatpersogress &

Range-wide ACTIVITIES We are leveraging our expertise to establish
sound research on the biology, ecology and be-
We continue to combine several conservation haviour of the Houbara bustard, in the field and
actions to rebalance wild population of Asian in captivity. These applied and fundamental re-
and North-African Houbara populations and re- search projects are continually adding to our
store them throughout their respective ranges. knowledge on the species and help improve
These initiatives include: our conservation activities.

• Establishing a network for research and con- In 2019, more than 85 ecologists worked in
servation initiatives through memoranda of the field across 13 countries and 19 regions
understanding (MoUs) and scientific agree- to collect data on Houbara bustards and their
ments habitats.

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 • Working closely with falconry organisations
in range countries to provide captive-bred
Houbara for falcon training and tackle illegal
trade of the Houbara bustard following the
successful UAE model

• Developing, together with partners, regulated
hunting based on released captive-bred Hou-

bara to alleviate hunting pressure on wild
populations

• Maintaining the reinforcement of wild pop-
ulations on their breeding grounds to in-
crease population size and boost natural
breeding

• Working actively on public awareness and
environmental education

24

ANNUAL BREEDING AND RELEASE The number of Asian and
North-African Houbara
Having bred more than 50,000 Houbara in cap-
tivity per year since 2016, some 64,316 Asian and released
North-African Houbara chicks were captive-bred in
IFHC’s facilities across the species’ range countries over the past year
during the reporting year 2018 - 2019. The total number exceeded 21,000 birds,
of Houbara bred in captivity has now crossed 480,000. bringing the total number
released since the programme
The number of Asian and North-African Houbara re-
leased over the past year exceeded 21,000 birds, tak- started to more than
ing the total amount released since the programme
began to 285,000. 285,000

25 IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 FIRST MIGRATION OF CAPTIVE-BRED & WILD JUVENILE
ASIAN HOUBARA FROM WESTERN & CENTRAL KAZAKHSTAN

Recent scientific data released by the Sheikh Khalifa
Houbara Breeding Centre in Kazakhstan has revealed
captive-bred Asian Houbara are following similar
migratory routes to birds born in the wild. The map
shows the migration pathways of 332 captive-bred and
wild Houbara monitored from 2009 through 2019.

WILD
CAPTIVE-BRED

26

HOUBARA MIGRATION DISCOVERY IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

In 2019, our new breeding centre, the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara
Breeding Centre (SKHBC-KZ) bred more than 7,000 Asian Houbara
chicks and released 2,978 captive-bred birds into the wild. Having
tracked and monitored both captive-bred and wild birds through-
out the past 10 years, our data suggest that the migratory routes of
captive-bred birds are similar to that of wild counterparts.
The discovery is another success of our conservation breeding pro-
gramme and efforts to rebalance wild Asian Houbara populations
across the species’ range, which stretches from the Middle East to
Eastern and Central Asia.
When it becomes fully operational in 2021, SKHBC-KZ will have the
capacity to breed 15,000 Houbara chicks annually.

27

Rebalancing wild populations SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

Captive-bred Houbara have now been successfully released in 14 range countries: Bahrain, Jordan, In 2019, we continued our assessment of Houbara
Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Turkmenistan, Morocco, ecology, biology, physiology and behaviour, by con-
Algeria, Libya and Mauritania.  ducting 20 studies on reproduction management, in-
cubation techniques, bird housing, feeding, genetics,
During the 2018 - 2019 reporting period, captive-bred Asian Houbara were released in 8 countries: preparation for release, and more. In addition, our
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. In the scientists established 18 research collaborations with
same period, North-African Houbara were released in Morocco and Algeria. national and international entities.

Kazakhstan UAE Saudi Uzbekistan Bahrain Global survey Autumn count
Arabia
Through our global survey initiative, we are progres-
Morocco Pakistan Turkmenistan sively increasing our population census effort for a
comprehensive understanding of population status
Algeria Jordan and trends. In 2019, new census areas were added
to annually prospected regions: in East Kazakhstan,
IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 Uzbekistan, Russia (Tuva Republic), Pakistan and Ta-
jikistan. Workshops on census methods and planning
for further collaboration were undertaken in the
UAE with representatives of several Houbara range
countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria
and Pakistan.

Nest survey

Our survey work uncovered some 1,865 Houbara
nests in Morocco, Central Asia (Kazakhstan) and the
UAE. A quarter of these nests were actively monitored
to assess breeding success.

Pre-release surveys

Our team carried out a number of pre-release surveys
to assess population status prior to release and to
fine-tune the reinforcement strategy.

28

Individual monitoring GENETICS IFHC has leveraged its expertise in global species
conservation to drive crucial conservation actions
We performed the trapping and tagging of wild During the year, our researchers performed nu- in Rajasthan, with our scientific team tracking
and captive-bred released Houbara to monitor merous studies on the genetics of our focal spe- wild Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican pop-
their survival, breeding and movement. Individu- cies among others. These included: ulations. Additionally, IFHC’s team of specialist
al monitoring is essential to assess the success of scientists have also trained Indian personnel to
the reinforcement programme and to understand • Ongoing assessments of the genetic manage- implement the breeding and release programme
behavioural strategies (migration) of the birds and ment regime at our conservation breeding at a planned Wildlife Institute of India breeding
their responses to environmental stress (hunting, centre facility in Rajasthan, and IFHC’s own breeding
climate and many other factors). In 2019, up to facilities.
1,418 Houbara equipped with transmitters were • Publicising the genome of the North-African
monitored; 784 in North Africa and 634 in Asia. Houbara and three populations of Asian Hou- Proactive early work has brought success with
bara, two of which were migrant tracking missions uncovering Great Indian Bustard
Evaluation of eggs, and the hatching of a Great Indian Bustard
houbara habitat • Reassessment of the genetic structure of chick at the facility.
Asian Houbara populations
A variety of assessments were carried out during IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
the past year. These included: During the year we also issued 18 scientific pub-
lications, including six research articles, nine in-
• Habitat quality assessments during pre-re- ternational conference participations and a Mas-
lease surveys to fine-tune the reinforcement ter of Research thesis. We continue to promote
effort and enhance bird survival post-release research and education with three doctoral
scholarships.
• Food availability assessments in Morocco, the
UAE and Central Asia, including measure- GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD
ment of invertebrate and vegetation biomass
With fewer than 160 wild birds remaining in In-
• Biodiversity assessments, as a collaborative pro- dia, the Great Indian Bustard is listed as critically
ject – on the national level in Morocco with endangered. Due to illegal hunting, habitat loss
the continuous study of plant and invertebrate and increased mortality caused by power lines, the
communities. On the international stage, we species could go extinct within the next 10 -15
continued our contribution (since 2007) to years.
the International Waterbird Census (Wetlands
International monitoring programme 2019), To avoid the Great Indian Bustard’s extinction,
where 14 wetlands were prospected, and the IFHC signed an MoU with the Wildlife Institute
waterbirds counted reached 1,500 across 32 of India. The agreement aims to fast-track the
species conservation of the critically endangered Great
Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican in their
• Evaluation of anthropogenic threats through natural habitat by collecting crucial data on be-
new surveys of power lines to assess rates of haviour, sightings and nestings.
bird electrocutions and collisions across Hou-
bara habitats

29

IN-COUNTRY ECOLOGY

UAE KAZAKHSTAN 7,117
Houbara
Our two facilities: The National Avian Research The Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre were bred and
Center (NARC) and the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara (SKHBC-KZ) in Shayan, is one of the most impor-
Breeding Centre in Abu Dhabi (SKHBC-AD) con- tant centres for the future of the Asian Houbara, 6,158
tinued to excel with scientific research and pro- with a targeted capacity to breed 15,000 chicks
gramme evolution during this reporting period. annually. During the latest reporting period, released across
Collectively, the centres bred more than 36,000 7,117 Houbara were bred and 6,158 released Kazakhstan
chicks. During the reporting period, 3,401 across Kazakhstan.
IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 captive-bred Houbara were released into the
wild in the UAE. Combined, our UAE centres MOROCCO
have now successfully bred more than 220,000
chicks. Together with the breeding centre in Ka- The Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation
zakhstan, the total number of Asian Houbara (ECWP), based in Missour, continued to breed
bred as part of the programme is approximately North-African Houbara. During 2018-2019,
227,117. more than 20,000 North-African Houbara were
bred, with 8,668 Houbara released into the wild
UAE in an effort to restore the species’ natural habi-
has successfully tat. Additionally, 3,485 were released in Algeria.

220,000bred more than 20,000More than
chicks
North-African Houbara
were bred in
Morocco

30

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Global surveys, constant monitoring and data col- PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF ASIAN and local communities, 1,814 nests were located IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
lection of Houbara populations play a crucial role HOUBARA IN TAJIKISTAN during the monitoring period. Some 469 nests
in effectively evaluating global population trends. were monitored to assess nesting parameters
In May 2019, the first visit of the IFHC delegation which include clutch size, nest survival and hatch-
Our 2019 global survey followed an international gathered vital data about Houbara in the country ing rate.
summit. Organised by the Fund in 2018, which and focused on rebalancing the species’ popula-
was attended by representatives from 22 of the tion. Considering the extent of steppic habitats In Morocco, 41 birds were trapped in the wild
28 Houbara range countries. Delegates from Sau- and threats such as hunting and agriculture, an (12 wild females, eight captive-bred females, nine
di Arabia, Algeria, Morocco and Pakistan, were urgent preliminary survey was conducted in Sep- wild males, and 12 captive-bred males), and in
invited in May - June 2019 to participate in a tember to assess the presence of the species and Mauritania, one chick was observed in the field.
workshop to develop the methodology for the its estimated distribution. The field survey also Overall, 784 North-African Houbara bustards were
global survey and discuss the feasibility and logis- included the identification of suitable habitats monitored with satellite and GSM transmitters:
tic aspects of future post-breeding counts. within the areas that facilitated development of 50 wild and 734 captive-bred.
objectives for surveys in the next breeding season,
PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF ASIAN furthering the Fund’s efforts of Houbara conser- Monitoring of Asian Houbara
HOUBARA IN THE TUVA REPUBLIC vation in Tajikistan. Field work in Saudi Arabia uncovered eight nests
from captive-bred released females; while 11
The Tuva Republic is situated in the extreme north- KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIELD nests were located and monitored in the UAE.
ern part of the Asian Houbara nesting range; the A further 32 nests were found and observed in
species has been declared vulnerable by the Red In 2019, five species were monitored: Kazakhstan.
Book of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the
collaborative project initiated between IFHC, the • The North-African Houbara In Kazakhstan, seven males were trapped (six wild
All-Russian Research Institute for Environmental (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) and one captive-bred), while the number of wild
Protection and the Ubsunorskaya Kotlovina Bio- male Houbara trapped in Mongolia was nine. In
sphere Reserve marked another significant step • The Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) the UAE, four wild-born juveniles were trapped.
toward Houbara conservation. Meanwhile, 108 wild and 526 captive-bred Asian
• The Arabian bustard (Ardeotis arab) Houbara were monitored with GPS transmitters
The first phase between April and May 2019 during 2019.
focused on diagnostics to confirm the presence of • The Eurasian Stone Curlew
the Asian Houbara and the Asian Great Bustard, (Burhinus oedicnemus)
and to evaluate habitat suitability and the extent
of anthropogenic impact. • Black-Bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)

Monitoring of North-African Houbara

In 2019, wild and captive-bred North-African
Houbara were monitored in Morocco. In associa-
tion with ECWP fieldworkers, Moroccan rangers,

31

FMaildcdloenrEaysAtrchive (MEFA)

Project Progress and 2019 achievements

With the aim to document, preserve and re-en- In 2019 the MEFA project progress and focus • Engage with El Real Monasterio del Escorial,
ergise interest in historical Arabic falconry treatis- has been as follows: in Spain, to ensure the reproduction of two
es, the Middle East Falconry Archive (MEFA) was manuscripts in 2020
launched by H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al • To review research, bibliography and develop
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy new written research content The mission is to revitalise the development of
Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces facsimile reproductions for the MEFA bibliogra-
in 2008. • Academic assessment and bibliography review phy by developing a new digital archive library
and implement a community outreach plan to
Since its inception, the MEFA project has identi- • Development of research and thematic narratives engage with the general public both nationally
fied 56 manuscripts and reproduced 11 of these and internationally. Furthermore, planning is in
to spread the legacy of Middle Eastern literature • Development of interpretation and mediation process for the public display and interpretation
on falconry. The treatises compiled are dated essays relating to manuscripts by Dr. Akasoy of MEFA collection in a public cultural facility for
between the second, eighth and 14th centuries, (including completion of companion notes for 2021, and to develop related collections connect-
and are amongst the oldest and most influential the 11 existing manuscripts) ed to falconry, such as books,images, artefacts
texts in the history of Arabian falconry. and other objects.
• Development of outreach plans for MEFA re-
search to be included in external exhibition
projects such as the Peregrine Fund’s Sheikh
Zayed Heritage Wing and the Internation-
al Association for Falconry headquartered in
Brussels

• Engagement and conversations with stake-
holders such as New York University Abu
Dhabi (NYUAD) and Department of Culture
and Tourism - DCT Abu Dhabi

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 32

TRIBUTE TO PATRICK PAILLAT

Patrick Paillat passed away in 2017 in Abu Dhabi, at providing broad exposure to the His Excellency Mohammed Al Bowardi entrusted Pat-
the age of 71. Patrick was an eminent French falcon- art of falconry and allowing a rick with the MEFA project due to his unceasing re-
er, an avid book collector and one of IFHC’s greatest healthy conversation to prosper. search efforts and extensive knowledge. The MEFA
supporters. Bringing his wealth of experience in the project, initiated and sponsored by H.H. Sheikh Mo-
conservation of birds of prey, gained from stints in In the early 1980s, the world-re- hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, involved a review of
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, his vast knowledge and nowned conservationist Jacques Arabic manuscripts on falconry scattered in libraries
his enduring passion for research, saw him contrib- Renaud offered Patrick a job in across the globe.
ute immeasurably to our various initiatives. Taif, Saudi Arabia, in a pioneer-
ing project to breed and reintro- Patrick led the creation of a bibliographic Fund based
With a deep love for falconry, Patrick took great in- duce Asian Houbara bustards. in Abu Dhabi that implemented the digitisation of
terest in the history of falconry in Arabia and vora- Taif was chosen as the location the rare manuscripts and an exhaustive production
ciously consumed literature on the subject. He also for the National Wildlife Research of facsimiles. The Fund continues to successfully ex-
possessed a strong desire to pass on his knowledge Center because of its particularly ecute the MEFA brief, with more than 11 rare man-
and expertise to a wider audience, mild climate. Created under the uscripts being reproduced till date and a large-scale
leadership of then-Saudi Foreign distribution of facsimiles to conservation institutes,
Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, the including the archives of falconry at the Peregrine
centre was to become a large labo- Fund in Boise, USA.
ratory for captive breeding and re-
introduction of several threatened Driven by an intense passion for the preservation of
Arabian species, including the em- birds of prey and a special love for falconry, Patrick
blematic Arabian oryx and the Houbara bustard. made a major contribution, notably through MEFA,
to UNESCO’s 2010 inscription of falconry on the list
In 2005, Patrick moved to Al Ain, serving as a con- of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage. IFHC is
sultant to the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi on committed to continuing and strengthening efforts
Houbara Bustard breeding at NARC. started by Patrick, which are hugely important to
preserving the UAE’s cultural heritage, and honour-
Patrick especially enjoyed hawking with the tradition- ing his memory through our actions.
al species of Arabian falcons, sakers and peregrines
and took a keen interest in the Arabic literature avail- IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
able on falconry dating back to the eighth century.
He worked tirelessly to bring to light the wealth of
information and insight that the manuscripts provid-
ed, striving to ensure proper preservation.

33

The year ahead

IFHC ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 As we enter a new decade and the UAE leadership RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
looks forward to the next 50 years, IFHC is looking to AND FIELDWORK
the future and the continued evolution of global spe-
cies conservation efforts. Fundamental to our success • Expansion of our breeding and research infrastruc-
in the year ahead is the progression of our renowned ture with the official launch of the Sheikh Khalifa
conservation breeding and release programme, as we Houbara Breeding Centre in Kazakhstan
strive to secure a sustainable future for this emblemat-
ic species. Our target for 2020 is to breed more than • Development of a habitat protection plan to be im-
60,000 chicks collectively across our facilities in the plemented across the Houbara range
UAE, Kazakhstan and Morocco.
• Exploring potential partners to adopt the IFHC
Key focus areas include: methodology for conducting in-market population
surveys and implementation of a consistent range-
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS wide methodology to facilitate the collation of more
accurate global data
• Development of a framework to implement the
IFHC sustainable hunting model in other territories DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
across the range countries
• Building on our strong relationship with the UAE
• Extending our strong international relations Ministry of Education (MoE) and capitalising on the
through collaborations with the world-renowned success of the ‘Conservation Education: the Hou-
Smithsonian Institution in the USA and the Interna- bara Model’ education programme implemented
tional Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in into the national school curriculum
Switzerland in addition to other countries
• Building on our incredible track record of aligning
• Leveraging the success of our 2018 ‘Conservation with the UAE leadership’s Emiratisation goals and,
Through Government Action’ summit to host a ma- as an investor in people, we will continue to train
jor global gathering designed to foster closer col- and develop Emirati talent
laboration on Houbara conservation
• Evolution of our internship and scholarship pro-
• Continuation of work with the Government of India grammes, working with partners and educational
to conserve the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser institutions as we strive to create the conservation
Florican in the state of Rajasthan leaders of tomorrow

• Progressing to the next phase of the conservation
work with the Castilla y Leon Heritage Foundation
to preserve the Little Bustard in Spain

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