At the Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026, children are gaining hands-on experience in diagnosing and caring for sick falcons at a new interactive clinic. This initiative is designed to introduce young attendees to veterinary medicine and the responsibilities of falconry.
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The Falcon Clinic, located within the Future Falconer Village of the exhibition, features supervised activities where children learn to identify symptoms of three diseases prevalent in falcons and the methods for diagnosing and treating them.
Dr. Muhtadi Omar, an expert in coccidiosis, educates children about this parasitic disease that affects a falcon's digestive system and discusses its transmission. Participants engage in basic diagnostic procedures, including examining samples under a microscope for parasites.
Another station focuses on thrush, which can cause white patches on the bird and lead to breathing or swallowing difficulties. Guided by Veterinarian Dr. Hamed Mohammed, children learn to recognize thrush symptoms and complete a quiz on their findings.
Dr. Mohammed Salah, another veterinarian, teaches about bumblefoot, a condition impacting a falcon's feet that can hinder its ability to stand. This segment underscores the importance of hygiene and proper care in preventing such conditions.
The clinic’s goal is to provide children with practical insights into falcon health while highlighting the ethical responsibilities tied to caring for these birds.
This initiative is just one of several new attractions at the expanded Future Falconer Village, which also includes storytelling sessions, augmented reality experiences, and an AI feature that creates images of children holding falcons.
The exhibition, organized by the National Center for Falcons and themed “A Destination for Everyone,” runs through Saturday at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, just north of the Saudi capital.