Eagle Hunters of Bokonbaevo, Kyrgyzstan

Hunting with golden eagles goes back centuries across Central Asia. Around Bokonbaevo, on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, a few families keep it going, partly by putting on demonstrations for visitors.

The eagles are taken young, trained, and kept for up to twenty years. Then they are let go, to breed and live out their lives on the steppe.

It’s not until you see them up close or have one of these magnificent birds sitting on your arm that you realise just what powerful predators they are.