Abu Dhabi, UAE – [28 August 2025] – The Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund (MBZRCF) will launch its 2024–2025 Annual Report at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), unveiling ground-breaking achievements that demonstrate how the Fund is shaping the future of raptor science and conservation across four continents.
Founded in 2018 by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the Fund has become a global leader in protecting birds of prey—restoring species, advancing cutting-edge science, forging global partnerships, and mentoring the next generation of conservation leaders.
The Fund now operates through a dual model of in-house projects led directly by MBZRCF and partner-led collaborations with world-renowned conservation organizations.
Among MBZRCF’s in-house projects:
- Mongolia: 27,000 power poles retrofitted, dramatically reducing electrocution risks for Saker Falcons, alongside research at our fully established and operational Bayan Raptor Research Station.
- China (Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau): Studies on Saker Falcons and Upland Buzzards revealing how raptors help manage fragile alpine ecosystems.
- Bulgaria: Over 160 Saker Falcons bred and released, successfully restoring a species once extinct as a breeding bird in the southern Balkans.
- Madagascar: Nine Sooty Falcons satellite-tagged, mapping their extraordinary migration from their wintering grounds in Madagascar to their breeding grounds in the Arabian peninsula.
Through partner-led projects, MBZRCF is driving global collaboration:
- Philippines: Supporting the Philippine Eagle Foundation to reintroduce critically endangered eagles from Mindanao to Leyte for the first time in a decade.
- India: Working with The Corbett Foundation to revive critical monitoring of critically endangered Indian vultures.
- Mozambique: Partnering with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to protect White-headed Vultures in Gorongosa National Park.
- Alaska & Patagonia: Teaming up with The Peregrine Fund to study the impacts of climate change on Gyrfalcons, Golden Eagles, and other polar raptors.
Across these initiatives, MBZRCF has satellite-tagged more than 100 raptors, studied 23 species, published 8 scientific papers, and mentored 30 young conservationists in just the past year.
“Our growing visibility and partnerships reflect our commitment to global conservation excellence—delivering science-based, innovative solutions that serve both biodiversity and sustainable development,” said H.E. Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of MBZRCF.
Visitors to ADIHEX are invited to explore MBZRCF’s interactive stand, discover its worldwide impact, and learn how the Fund is combining tradition, science, and innovation to secure a future for raptors and the ecosystems they safeguard.
A Video entitled “This is Our World” can be viewed here.
Media Contact:
Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund
info@mbzraptorfund.org
www.mbzraptorfund.org
@MBZRaptorFund