'Salburun'
which means "Hunter's Zest" in Kyrgyz language,
is a traditional hunting fest that has been held annually since 1997
in the area of Issyk Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia
The program of the festival includes falconry, hunting with taigan, archery, and ambler races. The festival aims at development and propaganda of the national endowment of the Kyrgyz nation. The best archers, hunters with golden eagles and taigan from every corner of the republic will participate in the festival. There are celebrations of local cultures, music and excursions, along with guided hunts in the region around the festival.
One of the organisers, Almazbek Akunov, says "traditions are disappearing in the modern world, that is why we gathered hunters from all the regions (of Kyrgyzstan) and organised this competition. I think if we manage to revive national traditions, we will be able to preserve the history of Kyrgyz people."
The organisers hope that the festival will help preserve the skills of their ancestors for future generations to admire.
One of the organisers, Almazbek Akunov, says "traditions are disappearing in the modern world, that is why we gathered hunters from all the regions (of Kyrgyzstan) and organised this competition. I think if we manage to revive national traditions, we will be able to preserve the history of Kyrgyz people."
The organisers hope that the festival will help preserve the skills of their ancestors for future generations to admire.
"Salburun", which means "Hunter's Zest" in Kyrgyz language, gathers hunters, birds of prey and hound (hunting dog) owners from all over Kyrgyzstan to compete in traditional Kyrgyz hunting and archery.
Hunting with golden eagles is a skill handed down from generation to generation in rural Kyrgyzstan. It dates back to the times when hunting was the only means of survival in the Kyrgyz steppe.
The organisers of the "Salburun" Festival revived the tradition in the form of a competition four years ago in order to preserve local culture. Hunting has always been an integral part of the nomadic lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people.
There are only a few "berkutchi" - birds of prey hunters - left in Kyrgyzstan. The majority of them learned the secrets of taming the wild bird from their fathers and grandfathers.
The hunter takes the bird and begins training when it is a nesting. When it grows up, the bird remains faithful to its owner and even recognises his voice.
Kyrgyz hunters say that in former times one hunter with a golden eagle could support a large family. [1]
Hunting with golden eagles is a skill handed down from generation to generation in rural Kyrgyzstan. It dates back to the times when hunting was the only means of survival in the Kyrgyz steppe.
The organisers of the "Salburun" Festival revived the tradition in the form of a competition four years ago in order to preserve local culture. Hunting has always been an integral part of the nomadic lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people.
There are only a few "berkutchi" - birds of prey hunters - left in Kyrgyzstan. The majority of them learned the secrets of taming the wild bird from their fathers and grandfathers.
The hunter takes the bird and begins training when it is a nesting. When it grows up, the bird remains faithful to its owner and even recognises his voice.
Kyrgyz hunters say that in former times one hunter with a golden eagle could support a large family. [1]
"Wolf baiting"
the gruesome part of the 'Salburun festival'
A gruesome part of the hunting festival is the one-sided battle of a golden eagle, a falcon, or a trained hunting dog, and a wolf who fight to the death.
The wolf is tied to a pole, some have even their mouth shut tied while a trained hunting dog or a falcon (or eagle) attacks him/her and maims him/her to death. Hundreds of onlooking hunters watch and cheer as the poor, helpless creature is torn to pieces or bleeds to death. In many cases, the wolf inflicts serious damage to the attack animals...
A hunting eagle attacks a chained wolf during the Kyrgyz traditional Hunters' Festival Salburun, near the
town of Cholpon-Ata, some 250 km (155 miles) east from the capital Bishkek February 7, 2010. (Reuters Photo)
town of Cholpon-Ata, some 250 km (155 miles) east from the capital Bishkek February 7, 2010. (Reuters Photo)
The following pictures had been published originally in The Daily Mail in May 2011. The pictures are from the Salburun festival held at the village of Tyup some 370km from Bishkek near Issyk-Kul lake on May 1.
Chained to a post in an open field, this wild wolf can never have felt more vulnerable. He is used to being the hunter, never the prey.
But now all he can do is wait until the eagle swoops back in for the kill, its razor-sharp talons glistening in the sun. The helpless animal leaps from side to side, snapping at the giant bird in a vain bid to scare it off. But this eagle is a well-honed killing machine, trained to slay its prey by the nomadic eagle hunters of Kyrgyzstan.
It is the final event of the festival and draws the biggest crowds. It is a gruesome battle to the death that almost invariably ends in the eagle's favor.
Chained to a post in an open field, this wild wolf can never have felt more vulnerable. He is used to being the hunter, never the prey.
But now all he can do is wait until the eagle swoops back in for the kill, its razor-sharp talons glistening in the sun. The helpless animal leaps from side to side, snapping at the giant bird in a vain bid to scare it off. But this eagle is a well-honed killing machine, trained to slay its prey by the nomadic eagle hunters of Kyrgyzstan.
It is the final event of the festival and draws the biggest crowds. It is a gruesome battle to the death that almost invariably ends in the eagle's favor.
Easy pickings: All this wild wolf can do is wait until the eagle swoops back in for the kill,
its razor-sharp talons glistening in the sun
its razor-sharp talons glistening in the sun
Desperate: The helpless animal leaps from side to side, snapping at the giant bird in a vain bid to scare it off
No contest: This eagle is a well-honed killing machine, trained to slay its prey by the
nomadic eagle hunters of Kyrgyzstan
nomadic eagle hunters of Kyrgyzstan
More pictures from different sources...
To take action against 'wolf baiting'
OfA has no own petition against the 'Salburun festival'. If you like to take action against the gruesome "wolf baiting" we suggest that you sign the petition started by Jennifer Hartmann and that is addressed to the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Zhantoro Satybaldiyev.
This is the petition text, taken from the petition-site:
Goal: Outlaw the brutal torture and killing of wolves at hunting festivals.
A two-day event that takes place in the town of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan called the Salborun Festival is a celebration of the country’s best and most respected hunters. In addition to talented hunters, it also draws the region’s best hunting dogs and falcons. While most of the events at the festival celebrate the hunters and animals in a humane manner, one specific event referred to as “wolf baiting” has received negative attention for its barbaric ill-treatment of animals. Ask the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan to stop the torture and killing of live wolves at these festivals.
Wolf baiting is not representative of usual hunting methods, but rather is a symbolic celebration of dominance over hunted prey. In this event, a live wolf is tied to a post while a trained hunting dog or falcon attacks and maims it to death. Hundreds of onlooking hunters watch and cheer as the creature is torn to pieces or bleeds to death. In many cases, the wolf inflicts serious damage to the attack animals, and so recent events have introduced a bit that is placed in the victim’s mouth to reduce its ability to fight back. This further terrifies the creature, and it never survives the encounter.
Because this practice is symbolic and therefore completely unnecessary in order to display the skill of hunting animals, this particular event should be banned from the festival. It is not right to torture and kill an innocent creature in such a vicious manner, and the festival can persist just as well without live wolf killings. In addition, it poses danger to hunting animals, as the wolf often overpowers them at some point during the attack and more than one animal is harmed. The only truth this practice reveals is how the human race feels so superior to animals as to treat them like mere objects instead of sentient beings. Such blatant disregard for the suffering of another living thing is cruel. This practice is a violation to animal welfare and it must be stopped.
Senseless killing of innocent wolves has desensitized the Kyrgyz hunters from the true atrocity of wolf baiting. Urge the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan to end this practice and adopt more humane methods of displaying hunting prowess.
To sign this petition, please click on the button below. Thank you!
Sources & references:
1. http://news.ebru.tv/en/central_asia/14757
2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382469/A-battle-bird-beast-The-chained-wolf-golden-eagle-fight-death-ancient-hunting-festival.html#ixzz2MUXPZG4k
3. http://www.manager.co.th/Home/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9540000060489&TabID=3
4. http://forcechange.com/60111/end-wolf-baiting-in-kyrgyzstan/