Kazakh Eagle Hunters

The Kazakh of today are the descendants of Turkic, Mongolic and Indo-Iranian indigenous groups and Huns that populated the territory between Siberia and the Black Sea. 

The Kazakh mainly live in the province of Bayan-Ölgii, meaning ‘Rich Cradle’.

The Kazakh have a tradition of oral history. They lean heavily on their clan and remember at least seven generations of their ancestors' names in order ''not to forget where they come from''.

Most Kazakh in this remote, mountainous region are dependent on domestic animals for their livelihood. For more than two centuries, Kazakh have hunted on horseback with trained golden eagles. 

Many families move several times a year with their herds between fixed seasonal settlements. Others with smaller herds will set up a yurt closer to their winter home during the summer.

Up until 1930, the nomads would freely move between Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Chinese province of Xinjiang. Modern borders have restricted their movement. 

Across the country they represent around 4% of the Mongolian population. 

Eagle hunters wear boots, black coats and fox fur hats called 'loovuuz'. 

The Mongol horse is the native horse breed of Mongolia. Because of their small size, they are often mistaken for ponies. In Mongolia, the horses live outdoors all year. 

The Kazakh wear beads and talismans to protect themselves from evil. Shamanic beliefs have been widely preserved among the Kazakh.

Islam was brought to the ancestors of the Kazakh in the 8th century. Most Kazakh are Sunni Muslims. More often than not, they continue to believe in pre-Islamic cults of the sky, the ancestors, fire and the supernatural forces of good and evil spirits, giants and wood goblins. 

The Kazakh of Mongolia are culturally and ethnically different from Mongolians, language and religion being the two primary cultural markers. 

“When you are vulnerable you can connect with people on any level. We just have to wake up to a new reality: a traditional way of living is disappearing among indigenous peoples. These extraordinary cultures have an important message for modern man as we are all at a vulnerable junction in the history of human. We should forever be grateful to them for sharing their knowledge and wisdom with us - for showing us, in many diverse ways, what it truly means to be human. Not one of us will live on this earth forever. But the stories of our cultures will be passed on from generation to generation."