Hunting with golden eagles

Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, is famous around the world for its hunting tradition. Initiated by nomadic people who wanted to hunt in a more moral way, natural predators are used to catch prey rather than manmade weapons. This tradition, known as 'Golden Eagle Hunting', is still present in nomadic groups who live in the Western Tien-Shan.

This is one of the oldest methods of hunting and a testimony of almost forgotten times. Berkuchi (eagle hunters) were real heroes to their peers and a source of pride to their families. They were the ones who brought food and were able to pass on the traditional way of hunting to their sons, generation after generation.

Berkuchi catch eagles when they are still young and dress them carefully. The Golden Eagle training is rather long, can take up to 5 years, and is done by only one hunter. This extensive and long training process allows the bird and the hunter to develop a strong connection, with each eagle only ever having one master. Golden Eagles are able to discern human voices, but they only obey the call and voice of their Berkuchi.

The tradition almost disappeared during the Soviet era, when local populations were forced to abandon their nomadic lifestyle. But this authentic hunting method was brought back to life and is now still used mostly to preserve the cultural heritage it represents to nomadic people. Observing eagle hunting is a true attraction which makes Central Asia and Kyrgyz nomadic people so unique!