In the Altay Mountains in western Mongolia, there lives a Kazakh "falcon people" who have been following the ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles since 600 years ago, and are one of the few people in the world who hunt with golden eagles on horseback.
In Kazakh legend, the eagle is the only sacred bird that can look directly at the sun without being burned, and the golden eagle is the ultimate hunter of the eagle family.
Their huge wings can swoop down at great speed, and their powerful claws instantly stab their prey like sharp blades.
Trained golden eagles to catch and kill marmots, owls, foxes, and even wolves on the prairie. In addition to being used for hunting, the Kazakhs also guard sheepfolds with golden eagles.
Of course, training a golden eagle is not simple, but for the Kazakhs, it is a skill they have passed down from generation to generation.
The chicks are captured when they are around 2 years old, and raising and training the golden eagle is a highly ritualized affair, the golden eagle is put on a hood, placed in a cage with a perch, and it takes about 3 to 4 years to teach it, and must be done by the same person. Because the golden eagle can distinguish the voice of a person, and only obeys the orders of its master.
Once successfully domesticated, the golden eagle showed great loyalty, perching on the hunter's arm, flashing a keen and wild look, helping its owner on horseback to find prey in the valley. Especially in the cold winter months, Kazakhs basically rely on golden eagles for meat.
Although the golden eagle can live for 30 to 40 years, the Kazakhs only use it to hunt for about 10 years, and then release it into nature.
Sometimes, when the hunter is released, he has to take the golden eagle far away and even has to hide it to prevent it from following the hunter home. Of course, this is also the most sad moment for the hunter, as if his family members have left.
The Kazakh golden eagle hunt has also become a cultural symbol, and hunting competitions are held every year.
At present, there are fewer and fewer real falconers, maybe only fifty or sixty. Some estimate that there are about 250 hunters, but experts believe that most of them are just holding golden eagles to pose for tourists.
The biggest threat is not the cold, but the fact that young people are more eager for modern life in the city. In contrast, the golden eagle hunt is a solitary way of life.
However, in any case, the golden eagle has become the spiritual bond of the Kazakhs and the cultural inheritance that flows in their blood.