A Saudi-bred Saker falcon was sold at an auction in the country on Saturday, August 7, for SR270,000 (around $72,000), said local reports on Sunday.
The sale took place at the International Falcon Breeders Auction or IFBA at the Saudi Falcons Club or SFC in Malham, North of Riyadh, said the reports.
The local reports said this was a record price for any such bird bred in the region.
Last year, the SFC had seen the sale of a young Shaheen falcon for SR650,00 (roughly $170,000), but it had been caught in the wild.
This Saker falcon was bred at Al-Aradi’s Farm in Saudi Arabia, said the local reports. It reportedly weighs 1,105 grams, is 17.5 inches long, and 16.75 inches wide.
The bird has been bought by Saudi falconer Moteb Munir Al-Ayafi. He now intends to call it Raghwan, and aims to participate in the so-called falcon beauty pageant, said the reports.
The competition gives the owner of the most beautiful falcon a prize of SR300,000 (around $80,000).
Al-Ayafi was quoted by the local reports as saying that he inherited the profession of falconry from his family.
He added that he has won championships in horse beauty contests, and seeks to compete in the fourth edition of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, which is the largest event of its kind.
Falconry is a popular hobby and a part of cultural heritage in the Arabian Peninsula.
It also helps the global falcon population, given that the bird is considered an endangered species.
