Hunting with eagles in Kyrgyzstan

Tomara

Hunting with eagles and falcons has long been part of the Kyrgyz nomadic culture.  On our way up Djety Oguz Gorge, we met up with an eagle trainer who showed us the remarkable skills of his Golden Eagle, Tomara, (a national prize winner in hunting in Kyrgyzstan) and his equally remarkable relationship with his magnificent bird.

eagle hunter with Tomara

Eagle hunters either breed or capture their birds, always females which are larger and quicker than the males.  They start training them just before they are ready to fly, teaching them to fly, hunt, and bring their prey back to their trainer.  A bird will have loyalty to only one person and will know that person intimately, including recognizing his heart beat and blood flow through their very sensitive feet as they perch on a trainer's arm.

Don and a hooded Tomara

Golden Eagles live to be 50 or 60 years old.  They live with their trainers and hunt for them until they are about 20 or 25.  Then, they are freed, well prepared to hunt and survive on their own in the wild. The trainers free them high in the mountains where they know other eagles live.  The female will soon find a male eagle, with whom she will mate for life, and produce her own young.

eagle in flight aiming for her prey

When we met the trainer, he had his eagle in the trunk of his car, hooded and ready to fly.

eagle in her car

She knew she was about to take off on an adventure, so started yelping well before her trainer opened his trunk and had her hop onto his well-protected arm.  Such an incredibly beautiful animal.

The trainer showed us his bird, what she could do.  He nuzzled with her and let us hold her. Then, he brought out a black rabbit and plopped it on the ground under a bush.  He walked the eagle high up on the mountainside, still hooded, and pulled off her hood before releasing her.  By that time, the rabbit had decided it would be smart to get out of there, so came running towards our group.  We were no help.  The eagle swooped right by us and nailed the poor little creature in a matter of seconds.  She knew exactly where to go. Eagles can see about 4 miles, so this was an easy hit, only about 1/4 mile from her release to the rabbit.

After hunting and eating their prey, eagles need to clean their beaks, so find a rock where they can scrape their beaks from side to side, cleaning off excess fur and food.  In this case, the hunter holds a small rock so his eagle can clean herself up.

eagle cleaning beak after hunting

eagle and hunter ready to perform