Tileukabyl Esembekuly with his Golden Eagle

Ref: 080510-4303     Date: 10-05-2008

Tileukabyl Esembekuly has started up an eco-tourism business in the central Kazakh steppe, about 130 km southeast of Karaganda. He can provide food accommodation, horse-riding, hunting and other outdoor activities. In this photo he is showing me his Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). Traditionally Kazakhs use Golden Eagles to hunt fox, hares and even wolves during winter. If the hunter were to fly the eagle during the breeding season, it might not return.