Eagle Man

Tintii Jamanakov, a 60-year-old eagle trainer, lives 22km from Karakol in Djele Debe. Tintii caught his first eagle as a boy, using the dangerous (and what would today be considered environmentally unsound) method of climbing up a mountain ravine to steal a nesting chick. As chicks, eagles are taught to recognize Tintii as their parent, then trained to hunt in the mountains and on the steppes - a traditional Kyrgyz practice still used today. Working eagles can weigh up to 12kg and live as long as 30 years. Tintii's present eagle, 11 year old Natashka, catches hares, foxes, other birds, and on one occasion, a young wolf. Her quarry provides food and fur clothes for Tintii's family.
   Turkestan can arrange visits to Tintii and Natashka at their home in Djele Debe and displays of eagle hunting techniques on fields nearby. This excursion fits well with a half-day trip to Djety Oguz (above).