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Photo © Lai Leng Lam

TITLE: Eagle Hunters: A Dying Tradition

Eagle hunting has been practiced by the Kazakhs for centuries. Golden eagles are primarily used for hunting foxes during the winter months. A good number of Kazakhs fled Kazakhstan during the communist era and settled in Bayan-Ölgii Province around the Altai Mountains, western part of Mongolia. These eagle hunters are nomads, living in ger camps built far away from the center of a settlement. Eagle hunting skills are traditionally passed down from father to son, a very gender-dominated practice. With the diminishing of this culture, we see a change in the centuries old tradition. At present with as shift towards gender equality, we are seeing female eagle hunters in the making. This project documents the life of two related families, living in the Altai Mountains, brothers Asker and Huanthan. Both brothers are now training Aigerim, the 12-years old daughter of Asker, hoping she could continue the tradition.

AUTHOR: Lai Leng Lam SINGAPORE

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