The month-long International Falcon Breeders Auction in Saudi Arabia came to a close on Sunday, September 5, with the sale of the world’s most expensive Gyr falcon.
Organized by the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham near Riyadh since August 5, the event has seen several high-value sales, including one where a young falcon was valued at $72,000.
However, that was shadowed on Sunday by an ultra-white Gyr Qarmousha Falcon that was less than a year old.
Sold for SAR1.75 million (around $467,000), it came from a noted international breeding facility called the Pacific Northwest Falcons farm, located in the US.
The falcon was 16.5 inches both long and wide, and weighed 980 grams.
محطم الأرقام القياسية بمبلغ مليون و750 ألف ريال من فصيلة “قرموشة جير ألترا وايت” لمزرعة باسفيك نورث ويست في #المزاد_الدولي_لمزارع_انتاج_الصقور
A record breaking sale of one million and 750 thousand SAR falcon “Gyr Qarmousha Ultra White” from Pacific Northwest falcons’ farm#IFBA pic.twitter.com/Po0stS1NYr
— نادي الصقور السعودي Saudi Falcons Club (@SaudiFalconClub) September 5, 2021
The bidding process was broadcast live on television and livestreamed on social media platforms.
On Sunday, SFC brought down the curtains on the latest edition of the IFBA, having provided breeders from 14 countries a platform to showcase their best birds.
Falconry is a popular hobby in the Arab world, and is considered a part of cultural heritage there.
The breeding of falcons as a hobby also helps its global population, given that the bird is an endangered species.
