AISHOLPAN NURGAIV

"I treat her with respect because if she trusts me, she won't fly away. We will be a team for a few years. Then, I will return her to the wild. The circle of life must continue."

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For 7 generations in Aisholpan’s tribe in the Altai Mountains, the men had provided their families with food and fur. However, aged 13, she decided to break the norm by hunting the big, fierce and dangerous golden eagles, which she found simply beautiful. She longed to train an eagle of her own, so she asked her father, who was a great eagle hunter himself, “I know that no girl has ever done this, but if you teach me, I’ll be good.” And he replied, “You are strong. You are not afraid. You can do it”

Aisholpan had a unique method of training the eagle she and her father managed to capture, by singing in order to familiarize her voice to it. She said, “I treat her with respect because if she trusts me, she won’t fly away. We will be a team for a few years. Then I’ll return her to the wild. The circle of life must continue” If this attitude persisted, perhaps, extinction wouldn’t be as serious an issue as it is today!

Aisholpan became the first woman to enter the Golden Eagle competition in Ölgii, Mongolia. Inspired by her, 3 more girls started training to become eagle hunters. Aisholpan taught us that if you break away from unnecessary societal norms to follow your passion, you truly will sore high like an eagle!