Partnerships and understanding between Kazakh pastoralists and golden eagles of the Altai mountains : a multi-species ethnography

A unique interspecies partnership between Kazakh pastoralists and golden eagles in the Altai Mountains reveals a model of co-domesticity, where eagles are temporarily integrated into human domestic life without hierarchical dominance. This study demonstrates that deep ethno-ornithological knowledge and mutual agency enable Kazakhs to cultivate relationships with eagles, mirroring their interactions with other livestock. The research highlights parallels in migration patterns and landscape use between eagles and pastoralists, challenging human exceptionalism by emphasizing interspecies communication as a means of understanding the world. The study employs multi-species ethnography to explore apprenticeship dynamics, where both humans and eagles engage in reciprocal learning, offering insights into non-dominant human-animal relationships.

McGough, L. M. (2019). Partnerships and understanding between Kazakh pastoralists and golden eagles of the Altai mountains : a multi-species ethnography. University of St Andrews. https://doi.org/10.17630/10023-18955