The marvelous tradition or method of the Kyrgyx people by training and commanding golden eagles in fox and rabbit hunting is gradually withering in Akqi County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Living deep in the west valley of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, the Kyrgyz hunters are a nomadic group which prizes above everything golden eagle as their symbol of freedom.
"I grew up watching my grandfather train golden eagles, and I was obsessed with this tradition. The process of capturing and training an eagle is like bringing up a child. You need to train it and respect it like your own child, then, it will give everything back to you," said Kurmax Kutman, a Kyrgyz hunter.
Most of the golden eagles are captured when young and happened to be away from their parents, as such their relationship with humans grow from the very moment.
The hunters will meticulously feed and train them; and when they grow up, they become naturally ideal assistant or partner to the hunters.
The local governments want the marvelous tradition to promote tourism and have given subsidies to hunters in a hope to keep the tradition alive.
But the reality is that the number of hunters is dropping with old age. The young are unwilling to be hunters because they do not want to live in deep and isolated mountain areas and defy tough natural environment.
In half a year, Kurmax's eagle, Ak Burkut, will be released to nature. "I want to thank the eagle before I release him back to nature. He has been my companion for four years and given me a lot of pleasure. We’ve cooperated well. Hunting has been successful. I hope he is also grateful to me, and that we each cherish our time together," said Kurmax.
Like all of other hunters, the 65-year-old Kurmax fears the tradition will die out, but hopes to pass on it to his 17-year-old grandson, though he knows the boy may have different thoughts.
"Many people feel that this tradition is on the verge of extinction. I don't want to see traditions being lost, but I know that day will come," said Kutubek Mukash, the grandson.
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