Staff Pick
Hunting with Eagles is the most jaw-droppingly beautiful book I’ve seen in years. Open it to any page and you’ll immediately be transported to another world. Palani Mohan’s stunning photographs of the Kazakh nomads perfectly capture this dramatic landscape and will soon have you packing your bags for a trip to Mongolia. Recommended By Shawn D., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Kazakh nomads have been grazing their livestock near the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia for many hundreds of years. Here,
in this desolate landscape, where temperatures plummet to minus 40
degrees Celsius in winter, live the last of the men who use eagles to
hunt on horseback. Rugged, formidable, proud, the golden eagles share
the same qualities as the men with whom they ride. Only the toughest
survive here.
Fascinated by the special bond that develops between
hunter and eagle, award-winning photographer Palani Mohan has spent the
last few years documenting the burkitshi, as the hunters are
known in Kazakh. As Mohan explains in his introduction to a collection
of breathtaking duotone images, this is a culture under threat. There
are no more than 50 to 60 ‘true’ hunters left, and each winter claims a
few more. Having taken an eaglet from the nest, given it pride of place
in their home and trained it, all hunters describe the eagle as part of
their family. With its massive wingspan, sharp eyesight and powerful,
flesh-tearing beak and talons, the golden eagle is the perfect predator.
Its usual prey, fox, provides a welcome meal for the hunter’s family,
while the pelt can be made into warm clothing. Mohan’s photographs of
the stark landscape, the isolation of the hunt, and most of all the
trusting relationship between man and bird, convey the huge importance
that the eagle plays in the lives of the last remaining Kazakh hunters.
This is an enthralling, timely record of these noble men and their
majestic eagles in an unforgiving part of the planet.
About the Author
Palani Mohan is a photographer whose work has been featured in many international publications, including
National Geographic, Stern, Geo, the
New York Times,
Time and
Newsweek. He has won awards from World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International, National Press Photographers Association, American Photo, Sony World Photography Awards and Communication Arts, among other organizations. He has previously published four books, including
Hidden Faces of India (2002) and
Vanishing Giants: Elephants of Asia (2008), and is currently based in Hong Kong.