DUBAI, U.A.E - Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa and the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) take centre stage in a unique documentary film showcasing conservation of endangered Saker falcons.
The film - featuring breathtaking aerial footage of falcons against the backdrop of Al Maha and the DDCR's desert landscape - has been made by German public TV broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk, part of the leading national ARD channel, with collaboration between His Highness Sheikh Butti bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum and renowned wildlife filmmaker Christian Herrmann.
Sheikh Butti's U.A.E. Falcon Breeding Centre has conducted pioneering research into the breeding and rearing of endangered falcons, culminating in the release of these falcons back into the wild. The documentary covers all the complex stages of this process, from hatching to the eventual release of a small group of birds.
New high-tech, lightweight High Definition mini-cameras were used to film never-before-seen aerial footage taken from a remote-controlled model aircraft, showing young falcons hunting a lure while being trained to follow and hunt their prey. The camera was also fitted into specially-designed nesting boxes, allowing close-up recording of the six falcons featured in the film.
The 30 minute film - "Al Maha, Through the Eyes of a Falcon" - is the brainchild of Christian Herrmann, one of Germany's leading wildlife filmmakers. Scheduled for broadcast in Germany and other European countries this month, it will also be screened onboard Emirates' aircraft worldwide, highlighting the conservation efforts of the DDCR and Al Maha.
Even before its first screening, the film has been nominated for two prestigious film festivals; the International Wildlife Film Festival in Montana, U.S.A., and Canada's Banff International Film Festival, with more nominations set to follow.
Filming took more than eight months to set up and record in 2006 and follows the progress of young Saker falcons bred in Sheikh Butti's falcon breeding centre, from chicks to fledglings, and then to young adults. The film also highlights the work conducted in the DDCR by its Conservation Manager Greg Simkins as he trains the falcons to fly, explore and hunt in the desert around Al Maha.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, and also Chairman of the DDCR, said: "This film is a memorable and striking record of an exciting conservation initiative, clearly demonstrating the value of the conservation work being done by the DDCR and Al Maha. I'm very pleased that this project was captured on film, and hope that its worldwide exposure will encourage interest in wildlife conservation and Dubai's efforts to promote this."
The film concludes with Sheikh Butti releasing the birds back into the wild in Uzbekistan, a primary breeding area for Saker falcons and the start of their migratory route which passes through Arabia and onwards into Ethiopia.
Sheikh Butti said: "My family has used falcons in the noble tradition of falconry for many generations, and over the last twenty years this has changed from training
falcons caught in the wild, to falcons bred in captivity. I have been proud to be part of this exciting change; culminating in 2006 with the release of these captive-bred falcons, bred in the U.A.E., back into the wild.
"Together with Al Maha and the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve I hope I will not be the last to make such a contribution, and that we will be able to give back to nature what she has so generously given to us. This is essential for our future generations to come. Thank you to all who made this possible."
Furthering research into the Saker falcon's lifecycle, the birds were fitted with satellite tracking devices on their release, and their progress is now charted along their migration routes on a weekly basis. Information gathered will lead to a better understanding of the threats faced by the species along the routes, and hopefully their eventual breeding within their natural habitat.
Greg Simkins said: "Saker falcons are endangered largely due to loss of habitat, and because they have traditionally been captured from the wild for use in falconry. They don't breed naturally in the U.A.E., only passing through on their migration routes. These days most birds are bred specifically for falconry, and birds used in falconry in the U.A.E. are bred in captivity.
"We all thought it would be good to give something back to nature by rearing Sakers for release in their natural breeding ground, in the hope they will increase their population in the wild."
The six birds' lives began when Sheikh Butti and falcon breeder Howard Waller successfully incubated and hatched the chicks, two females and six males. The ARD crew spent many painstaking hours in the desert surrounding Al Maha filming the birds, taking full advantage of the pristine desert landscapes.
Christian Herrmann said: "It was very difficult and intricate work to get the shots we wanted, with falcons hunting mid-air against the backdrop of Al Maha. But eventually we captured some stunning footage, which I'm sure will thrill everyone who sees it.
"This has been a marvellous project to work on, and we have received fantastic support from everyone involved. We're very excited about the final edited film, which has been produced in German, English and Arabic versions. For the first time ever, we mixed and narrated a documentary in three languages, and producing a version to follow Arabic narration was a big challenge."
Since the six birds were released in October, Greg Simkins has been receiving satellite navigation information from the system tracking them. He said: "So far they seem to be fine, and if they get through the first year the project will have been a huge success," he said. "If that's the case we'll definitely look at repeating the exercise to release a lot more falcons into their natural habitat."
The DDCR covers 225 square kilometers, five per cent of Dubai's total land area. It is the largest protected land area under conservation management in the Gulf, and the only one of its kind in the Middle East.
Al Maha was instrumental in setting up this unique reserve, which received permanent protection under Ruler's Decree, and its management also serves on the Dubai Conservation Board, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Reserve operates as a National Park with land area under wildlife management, and is the only location in the country where visitors can experience the desert and its wildlife.
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For more information please contact:
Robin Wilson
Emirates Corporate Communications
Tel: (+9714) 203 2329
Mob: (+97150) 654 9604
E-mail: robin.wilson@emirates.com
© Press Release 2007
