Falconry, an age-old tradition
Kazakhs have been hunting birds of prey for thousands of years. In western Mongolia, deep in the rugged Altaj mountains,this centuries-old nomadic tradition is still passed from father to son. The hunting season is during the unabashedly cold winters, when rabbits, marmots, wolves and foxes have an extra thick coat and stand out against the snow. Not only for the meat, the fur and for the protection of the cattle, this form of hunting is above all an art, a passion that transcends hunting.
The training
After a wild golden eagle is caught, it is bound to a pole for a few days, without food, so that he surrenders from exhaustion. Only then does the real training begin. Every time the eagle bites into a piece of bait, a moving piece of skin, it is rewarded with washed meat. The bird no longer makes a connection between its catch and food; He learns that he gets food when he brings prey. After weeks of training to strengthen the muscles - stronger than those of its peers in the wild - it's time for the real thing.
The hunt
From the highest peaks, the hunters scour the steppe. As soon as they catch a prey, the eagle's hood is removed. The giant bird of prey strikes out its majestic wings, makes silent speed and grabs the prey with its strong claws. If it is a large spoil like a fox or a wolf, the hunter gallops on his little horse as quickly as possible to kill the prey himself and bring in the fur unscathed.
Visit Western Mongolia in March during the Golden Eagle Festival and be impressed by the exceptional cooperation that testifies to mutual respect between humans and animals.