Kusbegilik — hunting with golden eagles

A kusbegi is a master who tames birds of prey and trains them to hunt. Kazakhs hunt mainly with golden eagles (berkut), as well as falcons and hawks, taking foxes, hares and even wolves.

The eagle is taken from the nest as a chick or caught young and patiently trained for months. A deep trust grows between bird and hunter, and by tradition the eagle is released back into the wild after some years.

Kazakh falconry is part of UNESCO's multinational element "Falconry, a living human heritage". Eagle festivals in Kazakhstan and in Mongolia's Bayan-Ölgii region draw thousands of visitors.