Qatar opens QR 1.2 million Falcon Center

The biggest falcon center in the country, which can accommodate 600 falcons, has opened at Al Shahaniyya.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber, inaugurated Al Kashaniyya falcon house, in the presence of falconers from Qatar and neighbouring countries.

The new facility built at a cost of QR1.2m has four rooms, each with an area of 45m by 30m to give more space for falcons to move freely. There are also special rooms, offered at higher rates and have an area of 13m by 6m each.

Nasser Khalifa Al Kuwari, owner of the facility, said every year they will start receiving falcons in January until the hunting season starts in October.

Falcon owner will have to pay QR5,000 for each falcon, inclusive of all services and food except the cost of medical treatment.

The facility has 32 airconditioners to maintain temperatures at 24 degrees Celsius. There are also 13 cameras to monitor falcons and for security, in addition to an isolation room in case a falcon takes ill.

The facility has five employees to feed and take care of falcons and except them nobody is allowed to enter the rooms. The owners can watch their falcons through the monitors because falcons need to be familiar with the staff and should not be distracted by other people.

Falconry is one of the hobbies and sports of Qataris. Most falcons are bought from Egypt, Libya, India, Mongolia, Russia and other countries and the prices of some can reach around QR3m.

Source: The Peninsula | Photo: derekbruff in QL Flickr Group