Law enforcement officers revealed with the help of residents information,that a citizen of Songinokhairkhan district kept 7 Saker falcons in his summerhouse.

Suspect G.Ganbold who lives in 28th khoroo in Songinokhairkhan district makes his living catching Saker falcons illegally to sell in Asia. He claimed that he was to release the birds into nature after taking photos of them to use as travel advertisements. But law enforcement officers believe such claims are cover for illegal actions.

Falcons are mostly believed to be migrant birds. But most people are not aware of this and think they inhabit Mongolia and stay overwinter.

The 7 Saker falcons cost total a 110 million MNT. A falcon hunt costs 12,800 US dollars.

Falcon hunting is not allowed from November 1st to June 1st according to the laws of Mongolia.

Falcons are endangered species that are facing a high risk of becoming extinct.

But a law on fauna says it will impose a 20,000-50,000 MNT fine to citizens and a 50,000-250,000 fine to unities that use rare live animals without appropriate permission.

Falcons are widespread birds with over 60 various species. And 10 species such as Falco peregrinus babylonicus, Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides, Barbary Falcon, Saker Falcon live in Mongolia.

The Saker Falcon is the most mature, strong and renowned for its speed, reaching over 322 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom.

The Saker falcon has undergone a rapid decline in recent years, particularly in Asia due to trapping for the falconry trade, and it now faces the very real threat of extinction. Of those captured for the falconry trade, the vast majority are thought to be young females, creating a major age and sex bias in the wild population that dramatically reduces its breeding potential. Females are preferred by falconers due to their larger size and young birds because they are easier to train than adults.

The Saker falcon is classified as Endangered (EN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Red List, and listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES.

It is estimated that 4400-6000 Saker falcons or 38 percent of reproductive birds migrate to Mongolia.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait import Saker falcons from Mongolia.

Authorities believed such export income would make benefits to our economy until recently. But falcon hunters invade into Mongolia resulting in a mass downfall of the falcon family. As a result of the falcon trade since 1993, over 4000 falcons have been exported.

For instance, 90 in 1994, 114 in 1995, 25 in 1996, 146 in 1997, 25 in 1998, 61 in 1999, 184 in 2000, 198 in 2001, 303 in 2002,  392 in 2003,  385 in 2004, 360 in 2005, 167 in 2006, 233 in 2007, 266 in 2008,300 in  2009, 140 in 2011, 150 falcons were exported  in 2012. But this is the official record of those exported with permission. How many falcons have been illegally caught and smuggled through the border is still unclear.

But the falcon has been avowed as the National Pride Bird of Mongolia.