Eastern Kazakhstan hosts first open Asian falconry cup at hunting festival

An open Asian cup for hunting with birds of prey was held for the first time in eastern Kazakhstan as part of the fifth Shygys Salburyny-2026 international festival, regional authorities reported.

The festival brought together 176 eagle hunters and more than 50 breeders and trainers of tazy, the Kazakh sighthound. The regional administration announced the event on October 10.

Participants represented Kazakhstan, Russia, Hungary, Georgia, Spain, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Competitors demonstrated how they handle eagles, falcons and hawks. They also presented the falconry traditions of their home countries.

Organisers described the cup as an initiative to promote the cultural heritage of hunting with trained birds and pass it on to younger generations. The festival's name refers to salburyn, a collective hunt conducted over several days away from a village.