How Farmers and Hunters Use Wild Animals to Hunt Wild Animals

In the remote Altai Mountains of Mongolia, Kazakh nomadic herders have cultivated an extraordinary partnership with the Golden Eagle, a tradition passed down through the centuries. Known as Berkutuchi, these eagle hunters use their majestic birds not just for sport but for survival in harsh, unforgiving lands where temperatures often plummet below 40 degrees The Golden Eagle, with a wingspan that can reach up to seven feet, is trained to hunt prey like rabbits, hares and even wolves, which can kill dozens of sheep, cattle or goats and cause severe economic losses for herders. When hunting, the Berkutuchi rides horseback, releasing the eagle The bird dives at speeds over 150 miles per hour, using its talons to strike prey with a calculated deadly blow. With fewer than 300 practicing Berkutuchi today, this ancient art is in danger of disappearing. Eagle hunting tradition dates back over 4,000 years, with each Berkutuchi beginning the process when the eagle is between two and four months old. These birds are taken from the wild, and initially the hunter must earn their trust and teach them how to respond to commands, often through food rewards. From Europe to Australia and the southern US, hunters have often relied on dogs' incredible tracking abilities and stamina to hunt wild boar. Wild boar are notoriously aggressive and difficult to hunt. This is because they can weigh more than 400 pounds and run as fast as 30 miles per hour. In Germany, they inflict over $100 million in damages yearly, and this loss went up to $1.5 billion in the US. The hunt typically begins with bay dogs, such as Blue Lacey, which locate and track the boar by scent. These dogs work in packs, alerting the hunter by barking when they have located the boar. Once the bay dogs have successfully cornered the boar, catch dogs are released. These powerful dogs let the Doggo Argentino, or American Bulldog, charge in and grab the boar, using their strong jaws to hold it fast. At this point, the hunter can safely approach and make the kill. The tradition of training dogs to hunt wild boar dates back centuries, with records from ancient Rome. In places like Italy and Spain, specially bred dogs, such as the Catahoula Leopard Dogs and Doggo Argentino, are often chosen for this demanding task. Training begins when the pups are young, often around 4 to 6 months old. When they are introduced to the scent of wild boar, they are then gradually taught to track and pursue them. Off the coast of Laguna, Brazil, wild bottlenose dolphins have been assisting local fishermen for over 150 years. These dolphins have learned to assist fishermen by driving schools of fish towards their nets. The cooperation is so well-coordinated that fishermen wait for the dolphins to signal before casting their nets. Fishermen report a 25% increase in their catch when they work alongside the dolphins. The process begins when the dolphins spot a school of grey mullet, a fish that tends to congregate in shallow, near-shore waters. The dolphins herd the fish towards the waiting fishermen, swimming in tight circles to prevent the fish from escaping. When the time is right, one or more of the dolphins will give a clear signal, often by diving deep or slapping their tails on the water's surface. This is the cue for the fishermen to cast their nets. Remarkably, the dolphins seem to understand their role, sometimes waiting for the nets to be set before moving in themselves to On the rivers of southern China and Japan, fishermen have long used cormorants, a large aquatic bird to help them catch fish. This ancient custom, known as cormorant fishing, dates back over 1,300 years and became a tradition on Japan's Nagara River and China's Li River. Cormorant fishing is typically performed at dawn and dusk, with the fishermen lighting the The bright lights attract fish to the surface, where the cormorants dive with remarkable speed and agility. Each bird has a loose string tied around its neck to keep it from swallowing the larger fish. After the cormorant catches a fish, it is retrieved by the fishermen, who gently remove the fish from the bird's throat before sending it back into the water. In some places, a single fisherman may manage up to a dozen birds at once, skillfully coordinating their movements through a combination of calls and gestures. In parts of Bangladesh and southern China, fishermen employ otters to assist in fishing. This tradition is practiced in areas with fish-rich rivers that are difficult to navigate with traditional nets. Otters are trained from a young age, often paired with older, experienced otters to learn how to fish. When out on the water, fishermen release the otters, but they have a leash on them so they don't get too far away. What the otters do is to scare the fish into a pre-set net or into shallow waters where they are easier to catch. Fishermen rely on the otter's natural curiosity and swimming abilities, gently guiding them with calls and gestures to keep the fish moving in the right direction. In parts of the UK, Australia and some regions of Europe, ferrets have been used for centuries to hunt rabbits. These small, agile creatures are perfectly suited for this task, as their slender bodies allow them to burrow into rabbit warrens and flush out their prey from the underground burrows. Overpopulated rabbit populations have devastated land and crops around the world. In Australia alone, annual agricultural damage caused by rabbits has exceeded over $200 million. The hunt begins when the hunter locates an active rabbit warren and releases the ferret into the burrow to flush out the rabbits. Meanwhile, the hunter stands by with nets or trained dogs to catch the rabbits as they flee their underground shelters. Ferrets are skilled at pursuing rabbits in confined spaces, thanks to their keen sense of smell and agility. Experienced teams can dispatch as many as 50 rabbits in a single day. In the savannahs of Africa, particularly among the Hazda people of Tanzania and the Yau in Mozambique, an incredible partnership exists between humans and a small bird known as the honeyguide. This bird has the unique ability to locate hidden beehives in the wild that humans would otherwise be unable to find on their own. In exchange for their help, the honeyguide is rewarded with a share of the spoils. For the Hazda, honey is not only a delicacy but also an essential part of their diet, providing around 15% of their annual calorie intake. The relationship between the honeyguide and humans begins with the bird's distinctive call, which attracts the attention of the honey hunters. When a human responds, the birds will lead them through dense forests and across open grasslands, flying from tree to tree, guiding them to the hidden beehive. Once the beehive is found, the honey hunter will use smoke to subdue the bees before harvesting the honey. The honeyguide eagerly awaits its reward – beeswax, larvae, and honeycomb. This process is incredibly efficient. Studies have shown the hunters guided by honeyguides are five times more likely to find beehives than when hunting by themselves. Years ago, hunting wasn't just a pastime, it was a matter of survival. Our journey begins deep in the forests of Africa, where wild boars have long been a prized catch. One hunting method that builds strength while providing boar meat is bow and arrow hunting. These bows and arrows are often made from natural materials like rocks. The next step involves tracking the areas where wild boars are known to appear and hunting them down. Dogs have always been hunters' greatest companions in these precious hunts. In some cultures, hunters would dig deep holes, covering them with branches and leaves. Unsuspecting boars would fall into these pits, where they would be speared or captured. Wild boar populations have always surged rapidly, thanks to their adaptability and higher reproductive rate. Another method that doesn't require a horse but demands a lot of patience is waiting by the tree. The hunter will approach the area where the wild boars often visit, scatter food, and then climb a tree to wait like this. Oh, there's quite a selection for him, as around eight large wild boars are gathering below. The spear is thrown and he scores a hit. If this was you, do you think you could hit one? Armed with just a knife and a four-meter rope, we're ready for wild boar hunting. This hunter observes the area where boars frequently roam. Next, he selects a tree that can be bent to set up a trap. Then he ties the rope into a loop with a 20-centimeter diameter. Corn, the boar's favorite food, is scattered inside the looped trap. As the boar searches for food and gets caught in the rope, it tightens around the animal. Each trap, like this, can catch around one boar at a time, but it's reusable and very cost-effective. This rope can bear a heavy load, allowing it to capture boars weighing up to 200 to 300 kilograms, although sometimes it only catches young, light boars. Boars are particularly cunning, strong, and can be dangerous when cornered. A herd of around a dozen boars is out foraging, and the hunter needs to only pick the nearest target. And thud! He has taken one down with his simple tool, a sharp-tipped spear. With this method, the hunter can choose which boar to hunt, but of course he needs a horse to keep up with them because wild boars can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers an hour. Bison are some of the largest land animals still living in Northern America today, with males standing around two meters tall and weighing close to a ton. These massive creatures were central to the lives of many Native American tribes, providing not only food, but materials for clothing, shelter, and tools. Though not the hardest animals to hunt, bison are certainly amongst the toughest to bring down, as they can withstand multiple shots from high-powered rifles and remain standing for up to 30 minutes. In the past, the hunt for bison was often conducted using a technique known as the Hunters would drive a herd towards a cliff, using noise, fire, or even horses to create panic. As the bison ran, they would be forced over the edge of the cliff, falling to their deaths or being severely injured. The tribe would then move in to harvest the meat and hides. In other regions, these hunters only need a two meter long spear like this in order to hunt buffalo. First, a group of around five hunters will survey the area to track the movement of the buffalo herd. When the buffaloes are off guard, the hunter quickly throws a spear down near its legs to hinder movement and gradually wear it down. Even after being wounded, it could take two to three hours for the animal to lose its ability to defend itself. Some seasoned hunters will coat their spears with a paralyzing poison to shorten the hunting time. Next, we journey to the swamps and rivers of Africa and the Americas, where the waters teem with alligators and crocodiles. Some can even reach 1,700 pounds. These reptiles, with their tough hides and powerful jaws, are formidable prey even for the modern hunter. But ancient hunters developed ingenious methods to catch them. One such method is the ambush. Hunters would carefully study the habits of these reptiles, learning when and where they like to bask in the sun or swim in the shallow waters. Armed with nothing but a sharpened spear or harpoon, the hunter would wait, sometimes for hours, until the perfect moment presented itself. When the alligator or crocodile was close enough, the hunter would strike with precision, aiming for the vulnerable areas around the eyes or underbelly. Hunters would construct a huge baited trap along the banks of the river, hoping to catch the creature by its powerful jaws or legs. Once trapped, the animal's struggle would alert the hunter, who would then finish the job with a spear or knife. These methods require not only physical strength, but also immense courage and skill, as a single misstep could easily turn the hunter into the hunted. Now let's shift our focus to a smaller but no less challenging prey, the rabbit. Found across Europe, Asia and the Americas, rabbits have long been hunted for their meat and fur. Given their size and speed, primitive hunters needed to be clever in their approach. The snare is one of the used to catch rabbits. Made from materials like plant fibers or animal sinew, these simple traps were set along well-worn rabbit paths. The loop of the snare would tighten as the rabbit passed through, catching it by the neck or leg. Hunters would set multiple snares at once, checking them periodically in order to collect their catch. This method requires a deep knowledge of the rabbit's habits and an ability to predict their movements. Another technique involved driving rabbits into nets with the help of a ferret. A group of hunters and ferrets would create a ruckus, flushing the rabbits out of their burrows and into strategically placed nets. This communal effort was both effective and efficient, often resulting in a large haul of rabbits that could feed an entire village. Moving north, we enter the dense forests of North Africa, where deer have always been an essential food source for the indigenous tribes. Deer hunting is also commonly practiced in the grasslands of Africa, like this. After the harvest season, men take on the primary role of hunting wild animals. Wild deer are most active during the fall, so on a good day, this group of hunters can catch up to five deer. Each deer could weigh up to 200 kilograms. Primitive hunters often employed a method known as stalking. The primary hunting tools are self-made bows and arrows. The hunter's arrows are usually perfectly straight. The most important part is that the arrowhead used for hunting deer is carefully crafted, with a gradually thickening sharp point to ensure it doesn't fall out after piercing the animal. Notably, the arrowheads are coated with a deadly poison for mammals made with a sleeping pupa mixed with orange water, or another fatal cardiac poison made from the seeds of a shangyoko. However, since fall is also the mating season for deer, the hunters will only target a limited number of male deer.