Beneath the gleaming lights of Abu Dhabi's International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, a symbol of immense wealth perches silently. Elite falcons, hooded and serene, represent a centuries-old Bedouin tradition transformed into a modern spectacle of prestige for the Gulf elite. These birds possess their own Emirati passports, access specialised veterinary hospitals, and travel the world in luxury vehicles fitted with custom perches. Yet, an exclusive investigation reveals this multimillion-dollar industry has a dark underbelly, fuelled by the illegal theft of wild birds from the United Kingdom.
The Stolen Chicks: From UK Cliffs to Arabian Deserts
Far from the Arabian desert, across remote cliffs and treetops in rural Britain, a troubling crime wave is unfolding. Peregrine falcon chicks are vanishing from nests considered unreachable without specialist climbing equipment. Later, many of these birds, issued with fabricated documentation, are discovered thousands of miles away in the Middle East, sold to buyers under the pretence of being legally captive-bred.
Exclusive data shared by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) investigations reveals a stark picture. Between 2014 and 2023, there were 126 reports of peregrine falcon nests being raided across the UK, with 21 confirmed through camera footage, DNA analysis, or eyewitness accounts. All are believed linked to the illegal trade. "There are hundreds of birds going missing each year," states Kevin Kelly, head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU).
British peregrines are highly prized. The cold climate of northern Europe is thought to produce tougher, faster birds, and established British bloodlines carry significant cachet. While legally only captive-bred birds can be traded, the demand for wild-caught specimens is driven by two key markets: falconers in the Middle East who believe wild birds are superior for racing, and breeding facilities that need them to produce lucrative hybrids for export.
Booming Trade and Regulatory Gaps
The scale of the legal and illegal export market is vast. Police figures indicate that last year, 4,000 peregrine or peregrine hybrids were exported from the UK to the Middle East, a number that rose to 5,000 this year. Data from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) shows that in 2023, 88% of all UK peregrine exports were destined for the United Arab Emirates.
To feed this demand, the number of UK breeding facilities has exploded. From about 27 in the 1980s, there are now approximately 160, all with direct links to the Middle East. Within these facilities, the most valuable export is the gyr-peregrine hybrid. However, DNA testing has proven that some birds within these centres are wild-caught, not captive-bred as declared.
PC Gavin Ross, who leads the police crackdown on falcon thieves, confirms the problem. "The DNA work shows there are a number of wild birds within captive breeding centres up and down the country," he says. Police inspections, though limited in capacity, find more than half of the facilities they investigate are non-compliant, with offences including false parentage declarations and holding wild-taken birds. In inspections during 2023 and 2024, 15 wild peregrines were discovered and confirmed via DNA tests.
Industry Denial and a Conservation Threat
These findings are contested by some within the falconry industry. Dr Nick Fox of International Wildlife Consultants, who has supplied falcons to Middle Eastern royal families, argues the illegal take is minimal. "Basically we have succeeded in killing the market for wild birds," he states. Similarly, Julian Mühle of the International Association for Falconry says comments from traders seeking wild birds "do not reflect the established preferences in the region" and that discovered wild falcons are not evidence of widespread crime.
Yet, for conservationists on the ground, the threat is palpable and damaging. The peregrine falcon's recovery in the UK since the 1950s is a celebrated conservation success, with around 1,750 breeding pairs. Now, experts fear greed could reverse this progress. "If a blind eye was turned, the peregrine would again be under threat of extinction," warns PC Gavin Ross.
George Smith, who monitors 60 nests in south-east Scotland, has seen a local decline. This year alone, he believes four nests containing at least 10 chicks in his area were raided. "It's pretty bad just now," he says. "Nest raiding was bad in the early 70s, and now it has returned." The thefts not only impact the birds but destabilise local ecosystems, wrecking the natural food chain. As the glittering world of elite falconry continues to soar, the shadow it casts over Britain's wild cliffs grows ever darker.
