Kazakh eagle hunters, known as "berkutchi," took part in a national tournament in the city of Oral on February 24-25, the first event of its kind in the West Kazakhstan region. The hunters showed off their skill in training their eagles and other birds to follow commands, catch prey, and return to their masters. RFE/RL Kazakh Service photographer Pyotr Trotsenko shared these photos of the winter competition.
The Eagles Have Landed: Kazakhstan's Masterful 'Berkutchi'
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Some 18 eagle hunters traveled from across Kazakhstan to take part in the competition in Oral, in the country's northwest.
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The competition took place after the end of the official hunting season, which meant that only rabbits were used to demonstrate the eagles' hunting ability, rather than the usual foxes and jackals.
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A falconer feeds fresh meat to his falcon before the competition in order to whet the bird's appetite.
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Spectators, including children, braved temperatures as low as minus 23 degrees Celsius.
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A golden eagle wears a hood before the competition.
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The hunters must demonstrate their skill in training their birds to obey commands.
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A bird flies freely before returning to its master. In other parts of the competition, the eagle must catch a fox's hide as it is dragged behind a horse, then catch a rabbit released for the tournament.
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Three competitors
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Hunting with golden eagles is an expensive pursuit. An eagle can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the age, size, and gender. Female eagles cost more as they are larger and considered better hunters.
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Despite the high cost of owning an eagle, the competition doesn't bring a great financial reward. The first-place winner receive 200,000 tenge, or about $625. Second and third place bring in 50,000 tenge, or $156.
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Aybulat Kurumbaev, the organizer of the competition, says the tradition of hunting with eagles has dwindled over time.
"We want to hold these tournaments regularly in Oral in the future," Kurumbaev told RFE/RL. "These competitions help to develop eagle hunting in the region and popularize domestic and foreign tourism. For example, Russian hunters are already asking whether the competitions will be held in Oral every year."
"We want to hold these tournaments regularly in Oral in the future," Kurumbaev told RFE/RL. "These competitions help to develop eagle hunting in the region and popularize domestic and foreign tourism. For example, Russian hunters are already asking whether the competitions will be held in Oral every year."
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Some Russian falconers visited the tournament, but none was able to compete because of the difficulty involved in transporting birds of prey across borders. Here, a Russian falconer holds a bird belonging to one of the Kazakh competitors.
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A falcon catches prey during the competition.
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Arman Koshkarov, from the city of Atyrau, won first place in the tournament.
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Koshkarov has been hunting with golden eagles since he was in the sixth grade. "My father was a student of the famous berkutchi Abdilkhak Turlybayev, and I learned everything from my father," Koshkarov said. "It's not a hobby. It's a tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. It's also a passion -- to leave early in the morning on a horse, to check on the golden eagle and how it's flying and hunting.
"Many people believe that the strongest berkutchi are in Mongolia. But I've been to Mongolia and I don't agree. I've been many places, and I think that the best hunters are in Kazakhstan. The golden eagle is the same everywhere, but the person's approach to the bird is different."
"Many people believe that the strongest berkutchi are in Mongolia. But I've been to Mongolia and I don't agree. I've been many places, and I think that the best hunters are in Kazakhstan. The golden eagle is the same everywhere, but the person's approach to the bird is different."
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A mounted police officer keeps an eye on the event.
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A golden eagle in flight