Hunting with eagles

Bokumbaevo, Kyrgyztan

Berkut Che - Eagle hunter

Hunting with eagles is believed to have originated in Kyrgyzstan. I saw this amazing man-beast combination in Bokumbaevo, Kyrgyzstan. 

Young eagles are taken from their nest when they are less than 6 months old. The trainer (Called "Berkut Che" ) sometimes  snares birds less than 1 year old by laying nets on the ground. Birds have a life span of up to 50 years. Training takes only 6 months and lasts a lifetime.

To train the bird, its kept hungry for a few days. Bird legs are tied to a long leash and set free from the cage. A piece of meat is wrapped in a leather pouch is thrown to the bird. The bird cannot eat the meat as the meat is tightly covered by the leather. If  leather pouch is bought to back to the trainer the bird gets a piece of meat.

Hunting with the bird happens in winter.  The main hunt consists of foxes and rabbits. To prepare the bird for the hunt, it is fed meat soaked for 2 days in water. This keeps the bird hungry. As the Berkut Che explained " Hungry bird is a vicious bird". The eagle is released when in sight of the prey. The bird kills the prey and waits for the hunter. The eagle gets a share of the kill.

Birds are released back into the wild when they are 20 years old. The bird never leaves the trainer. It can be seen in the vicinity of the trainer until its death.