THE ALPS
QUEEN OF THE SKIES
Asul is a five-year-old golden eagle living in The Alps in Liechtenstein.
Having been hunted ruthlessly, the species has disappeared from many areas that are now more heavily populated by humans and they survive in Europe only in remote mountain ranges, such as the Alps.
Due to its hunting prowess, the golden eagle is regarded with great mystic reverence in some ancient, tribal cultures. In the Alps, Asul is regarded with great love by her breeder, Norman Vögeli.
Eight years ago, Vögeli started his falconry journey. He began to catch birds, starting with ravens. Then he moved on to bigger species and finally he was able to work with eagles.
As a falconer, he thinks there are three types of eagles: soft ones, hard ones and freaks. "Asul belongs to the freaks - fast and crazy, in a positive way."
The birds use their agility and speed to catch a variety of prey. But Asul also loves being fed by Vögeli, which he says is fundamental to keeping an eagle with its breeder.
Historically these birds have preferred to live away from humans, which is why the Alps represent their ideal habitat. This is what makes Vögeli’s relationship, between man and wild animal, so special.
Despite the dramatic way they dive for their unsuspecting food and interact with other raptors, the daily life of golden eagles is often rather uneventful.
Asul is a five-year-old golden eagle living in The Alps in Liechtenstein.
Having been hunted ruthlessly, the species has disappeared from many areas that are now more heavily populated by humans and they survive in Europe only in remote mountain ranges, such as the Alps.
Due to its hunting prowess, the golden eagle is regarded with great mystic reverence in some ancient, tribal cultures. In the Alps, Asul is regarded with great love by her breeder, Norman Vögeli.
Eight years ago, Vögeli started his falconry journey. He began to catch birds, starting with ravens. Then he moved on to bigger species and finally he was able to work with eagles.
As a falconer, he thinks there are three types of eagles: soft ones, hard ones and freaks. "Asul belongs to the freaks - fast and crazy, in a positive way."
The birds use their agility and speed to catch a variety of prey. But Asul also loves being fed by Vögeli, which he says is fundamental to keeping an eagle with its breeder.
Historically these birds have preferred to live away from humans, which is why the Alps represent their ideal habitat. This is what makes Vögeli's relationship, between man and wild animal, so special.
Despite the dramatic way they dive for their unsuspecting food and interact with other raptors, the daily life of golden eagles is often rather uneventful.
But not in this case....
Asul and her breeder have an unusual bond that leads Vögeli to talk of a "marriage" between him and the bird. He explains the chances of an eagle staying with a breeder for the first five years of its life are very small, "because it has no attachment."
When an eagle becomes mature (about four or five years old), it looks for a partner to mate with for life. Vogeli says this can be heartbreaking for a falconer as you could risk losing the bird forever, after years of taking care of it.
While this majestic bird has found a companion in the principality of Liechtenstein, many others have also found their partners in the Alps – which with 1,200 breeding pairs has the third largest population of these eagles. It only lags Scandinavia, with around 1,900 and Spain, which has 1,440.
However, Vögeli doesn't take Asul's love for granted, even when the bird shows signs of jealousy towards his real (human) wife.
This story is part of CGTN Europe's series The Alps: Timeless and changing.
Credits:
Interview: Johannes Pleschberger. Video producers: Francesca Della Penna and Johannes Pleschberger. Article: Francesca Della Penna. Video editor and graphics: Natália Luz.
CGTN EUROPE 2020