Golden eagle hunting (berkutchi) is a genuine centuries-old Kyrgyz nomadic tradition, still practiced by a small number of families around Issyk-Kul, most visibly in Bokonbaevo.
A working demonstration by a real berkutchi (eagle hunter) — the eagle flying to the handler's glove on command, and typically a hunting-technique demonstration with a lure. It's presented as living cultural heritage rather than a staged animal show, and you'll usually get to hear directly from the handler about how the birds are trained and cared for.
Reasonable travelers weigh this differently. What we'd say: the birds are working animals central to a family's cultural identity and livelihood, not props kept solely for tourism, and the practice predates tourism by centuries. If you have specific questions about how a particular handler cares for their eagle, ask directly on the day — most berkutchi are proud to explain it.
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