The Legend of Kazakh Eagle Hunters

Kazakhs are semi-nomadic people and have live around Altai Mountains in Western Mongolia with their herds since 19th century. There are about 87,000 Kazakhs in Mongolia (4% of Mongolia population) and an estimated of 250 Kazakhs still practicing as eagle hunters today. The tradition of eagle hunting is over a thousand year old! In 2011, UNESCO added Kazakh eagle hunting to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as an example of living human heritage. As one eagle hunter told National Geographic, "When Kazakhs came into the world, they were eagle hunters."