At the crossroads between China and Russia, just a few dozen kilometers from Kazakhstan, the western part of Mongolia is inhabited by several ethnic groups, with the Khalkha, Tuvas, and Kazakhs being the most prominent.
This makes Bayan-Ölgii a cultural crossroads, giving the region a unique charm, still relatively unknown and preserved due to its remoteness from the capital.
The most significant culture in the area is Kazakh. Having migrated from Kazakhstan at the end of the 17th century, the Kazakhs settled in this semi-desert region and developed a unique culture—a sophisticated blend of Kazakh and Mongolian influences—that has created a particularly strong identity and a distinct sense of hospitality, accompanied by a constant kindness that is sure to enchant visitors.
It is in this harsh and untamed land that the Kazakhs practice and preserve the ancient tradition of eagle hunting.
Eagle hunting has been practiced in Mongolia for centuries. It is even said that Genghis Khan kept more than 100 eagles for his hunts. Today, the Kazakh people in the western part of the country are the only ones who continue this practice, the origins of which are lost in the mists of time.
The Burgidchin, hunters and also trainers, live in close relationship with their eagles—a symbiosis of respect and submission, with no clear sense of who submits to whom.
Eagle hunting is an ancient tradition practiced solely by horse-riding peoples or tribes. The hunter must be able to move quickly with his eagle and climb to heights; the horse provides the necessary speed and agility.
The Kazakh people, who settled in the extreme west of Mongolia at the end of the 17th century, continue to practice this traditional form of hunting.
Eagle chicks are captured from their nests, usually during the summer.
In spring, the hunter locates an eagle's nest and must wait until the chick is mature enough to be taken from its parents, but not yet fully feathered.
Capturing the eagle chick is a significant part of the tradition and represents a key moment in the relationship between the hunter and his eagle.
Nests typically contain two chicks, and often only one will survive. Hunters aim to capture the chick while both are still in the nest, usually preferring to take a female, as they are reputed to be more aggressive than males.
Once brought to the camp, the chick is hooded and placed on a perch designed to prevent it from sleeping, which helps disorient it and break its resistance.
The chick is fed in the same manner as its parents, which helps to reassure it and minimize the stress of capture. Gradually, the chick becomes accustomed to its new situation, and the bond between the chick and the hunter begins to form.
In the following month, the trainer releases the eagle to pieces of meat placed a few meters away, while the eagle is still tethered by a leash attached to its leg.
The leash will remain in use until the eagle returns to the trainer on its own. The trainer spends a large part of the day building the relationship with the eagle, feeding it, and training it to hunt, gradually giving it more freedom. When not in training, the eagle is kept in a relatively dark place to maintain its visual acuity.
In Kazakh homes, whether in cabins or yurts, there is often a specific area designated for the eagle to ensure it has as much tranquility as possible. Sometimes an entire yurt is reserved for the eagle, and it is not uncommon for a family to own several eagles. Training lasts several months until the eagle has gained enough experience for its first hunt.
Young eagles are first trained on small game, such as rabbits or hares, before progressing to hunting foxes.
In late summer and autumn, the hunter fine-tunes the training so that the eagle is ready for its first hunt. In Bayan-Ölgii, eagle hunting takes place from October to late February, when the eagle is in full plumage and the fur of the game is of higher quality.
The first hunt is a crucial event in Kazakh life and culture.
The Burgidchins set out on horseback, holding their eagle on their fist. They head to a vantage point from which the raptor can survey the entire valley.
The eagles remain hooded until the start of the hunt. In the valley below, beaters make noise and strike their coats to flush out foxes and hares.
The hunter then removes the hood that prevents the eagle from seeing. Within seconds, the eagle’s vision adjusts to the light, regaining its acute sight, which is nearly ten times better than that of a human.
The hunter keeps the eagle tethered by a small leash attached to its leg to prevent it from flying away, waiting until the eagle spots the game.
The eagle is then "released" onto its prey. It soars, then dives towards the animal, reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h.
Just before impact, the eagle adjusts its posture and slows its descent. It seizes its prey at the base of the neck, paralyzing it with the tips of its talons, which exert a pressure of over one hundred kilograms per square centimeter.
The talons penetrate the vertebrae and rib cage of the prey, and the fatal blow is usually delivered with the eagle's powerful beak.
The hunter must then descend the hill quickly to retrieve the prey and reward his eagle with a piece of meat before the eagle causes too much damage to the animal.
The Kazakhs keep their hunting eagles for only seven or eight years and release them to the wild so they can reproduce.
Once their eagle is returned to the wild, the Burgidchins go back to the mountains, find another chick, and repeat these ancient practices, passing on this skill to their sons.
**The Eagle Hunting a Wolf...**
The myth, the legend, or reality...
Numerous accounts and ancient manuscripts speak of this ultimate hunt, where the lord of the sky overpowers the lord of the steppes. This hunt was usually conducted in the vast plains of Asia, where hunters could first chase the animal on horseback, weakening it before releasing the eagles.
It was a time when the risk of losing an eagle was inconsequential...
A time when the fur of a wolf was precious for making clothing necessary to withstand the harsh winters, making it a matter of survival for a tribe.
Today, Kazakh Burgidchins are very hesitant to hunt wolves with their eagles and practice their art on other game, mainly foxes and hares.
Hunting the lord of the steppes requires a very powerful eagle, one that is aggressive and has significant experience.
The wolf is strong, and in a battle, even if the eagle gains the upper hand at impact, it is likely to be injured. Even a minor injury, such as a wound to the leg, talon, or tendon, can render the eagle unable to hunt afterward.
Though it still occasionally happens, hunters take enormous precautions, often hunting wolves with two eagles or selecting a young wolf, ensuring that a beater can intervene quickly to assist the eagles and dispatch the wolf to avoid injury to the raptors.
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