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Episode 2

A family of nomads teaches Gordon Buchanan how they hunt with golden eagles in a spectacular mountain wilderness. Can Gordon gain the trust of his young eagle?

For thousands of years, Kazakh people of western Mongolia have formed a hunting partnership with golden eagles to help them catch furs to stay warm in the freezing winters. Wildlife cameraman, Gordon Buchanan joins a family of nomads to learn about golden eagles from these experts and help them train a young eagle to hunt. Gordon has a few painful lessons learning how to train and fly his young eagle. An eagle鈥檚 training starts when it鈥檚 less than a year old. Kazakhs always hunt with females as they are larger and fiercer than males. Gordon works with a young eagle to prepare it for its first hunt 鈥� will they be able to learn to trust and work with each other? And will he be able to get to grips with flying her, taking into account the wind and terrain, without getting hurt in the process? Gordon spends days with his young eagle to build her trust 鈥� even letting her sleep in his tent. But it鈥檚 not just the eagle he has to bond with 鈥� he鈥檚 got to get to grips with carrying an eagle on horseback, as well as mucking in with daily chores. Eventually Gordon faces some of the area鈥檚 top hunters in a 鈥榣ure drag鈥� tournament. Gordon鈥檚 young eagle is not a successful hunter yet, but she shows promise. Then Gordon鈥檚 mentor Sailau releases his older eagle back to the wild to breed. This older eagle has been Sailau鈥檚 hunting partner for eight years, and it鈥檚 a touching moment as he says goodbye to his companion. It鈥檚 a poignant act that illustrates the respect and love these remarkable people have for an iconic predator that鈥檚 persecuted across the world.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Egschiglen

    Chandmani Nutag

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Gordon Buchanan
Producer Rachael Kinley
Series Producer Ted Oakes

Broadcasts

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