Falcons get treated in Qatar's special hospital for birds of prey - in pictures

A look inside a specialised emergency centre for the country's national bird

Located in one of Doha's oldest markets, Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital opened in 2008. All photos: Reuters

The hospital provides a wide range of services, from surgery to generating IDs and passports for the birds.

In the clinic's busiest period, from around September to early March, it receives around 140 to 150 birds per day.

Falconers rely on the services provided by the hospital to keep their birds healthy.

With many competitions and prizes, falconry today is not solely based on hunting, even though it is still practised.

The local hunting season in Qatar starts in November when birds coming from the northern hemisphere seek warmer weather in the Gulf region.

Falconry was inscribed in 2021 on Unesco's representative list of the 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity'.

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