Pet Bunny
Our next big destination, and my final one in this country, is Lake Song Kol. Although on a map it is not super far with mountainous roads and windy highways it was going to be a long drive that required a bush camp stop.
On the way we stopped to watch an Eagle Hunt. The middle aged Krygz man and his daughter appeared out of their car. We were parked near a field at the edge of a hill. Giant mountains rose out of the ground in the distance with beautiful snowy caps. The man sported a huge eagle on his arm while the girl carried a rabbit gently in her arms petting him.
The Kyrgz man began to explain the process of raising and training an eagle. As the eagle was a young baby he acquired the bird from a nest in the mountains. He then raised the eagle every day as if he was its own mother. Feeding and caring for its every need. As the bird began to grow he started to train it by using fox skins tied to ropes. Slowly the bird learned cues from its owner and grew into a strong hunter!
This man loved his bird as if it was a child. During the enter presentation he kissed and pet the bird gently. There was no denying the connection between these two.
I got a chance to have the bird on my arm. I was shocked at just how heavy this magnificent bird was.
Now it was time for the hunt. The man began to climb the hill nearby with the bird. The girl on the other hand stayed with us. As the man neared the top of the hill she placed her pet bunny on the ground. Giving it one last pet she retreated back to stand with us.
Ummm hold up! Is she using her pet bunny to demonstrate? She was just treating it so kindly!
Swiftly the bird soared down from the hill and without a second of hesitation he landed straight on top of the bunny. It's talons sunk straight into the the bunny`s body. There he sat digging the life out of this adorable bunny. Then its beak stuck the fur around the neck. It was as simple as that.
The man came and retrieved his beloved bird. The girl less that carefully carried the bunny back to the car by its ears. So much for loving treatment!
A few more demonstrations involved catching a fox skin mid air and flying off the hill to land on its masters shoulder. Entertained and slightly sick to our stomachs we bid them farewell and headed back on the road.
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