Golden eagles have a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres — wider than a very tall adult stretches their arms. They can spot a hare from two kilometres away as they glide silently above the mountains. When they dive to catch prey, they fold their wings and drop at breathtaking speed.
In Kyrgyzstan, the tradition of training eagles for hunting is called berkutchi. The eagle hunters who practise this ancient art are called berkutchi too. A berkutchi will raise an eagle from a young bird, training it to return to the hunter's gloved arm when called and to help hunt foxes and hares in the mountains. A well-trained hunting eagle is considered one of the most prized things a Kyrgyz family can have.
Keeping and training an eagle takes years of patient work. The birds are fed by hand, carried everywhere on the arm, and slowly become calm and trusting with their keeper. After several years of hunting together, the eagle is usually released back into the wild to live freely. This respectful relationship between human and wild bird is remarkable.
Eagle hunting has been officially recognised by UNESCO — the United Nations cultural organisation — as an important piece of humanity's cultural heritage. Kyrgyz eagle hunters take great pride in this tradition and often demonstrate their skills at festivals and competitions.