Photographer Leo Thomas captures the rare and inspiring story of Zamanbol, one of Mongolia’s last remaining female eagle hunters, as she trains in the mountains of the Altai with her golden eagle.
Through the Eyes of an Eagle: Photographer Documents Rare Female Hunter of Mongolia’s Altai Mountains
In the remote and rugged expanses of Western Mongolia’s Altai Mountains, a vanishing tradition still thrives—an ancient practice known as eagle hunting. For centuries, this powerful form of falconry has been passed from father to son, with golden eagles trained to hunt foxes and small game across the snow-covered steppes. But today, among the roughly 300 remaining practitioners of this ancient art, a few remarkable women are redefining the legacy.
German photographer Leo Thomas recently traveled to the Altai region, drawn by both the raw natural beauty and the cultural richness of Mongolia’s nomadic eagle hunters. During his journey, he met 14-year-old Zamanbol, one of just a handful—only around ten—female eagle hunters left in the country. A proud member of a Kazakh nomadic family, Zamanbol lives a life that bridges two worlds. She spends her weekdays attending school in the city, but each weekend returns to the mountains to train alongside her brother, Barzabai, with her beloved golden eagle perched by her side.
Thomas’s photographs are more than documentation—they are visual tributes to strength, tradition, and resilience. His images show Zamanbol on horseback, clad in traditional fur garments hand-stitched by her family, her eagle’s keen eyes mirroring her own determined spirit. Each shot is a glimpse into a world untouched by modern distractions, where time is measured not in minutes, but by the rhythm of seasons, the migrations of animals, and the soaring of wings. The experience left a deep impression on the photographer, who found himself reflecting on his own modern lifestyle.
“While Barzabai, who’s my age, lives in harmony with nature, surrounded by family and freedom, I’m in front of a screen for most of my life,” Thomas noted. “It’s a simple contrast—but a profound one.” Leo Thomas’s work captures more than just a fading tradition—it tells the story of cultural identity, familial connection, and the evolving role of women in ancient practices. His journey through Mongolia offers a powerful reminder of how deeply history and nature are entwined, and how a young girl with an eagle can embody centuries of strength in a single glance.
