Photographer Hamid Sardar-Afkhami is a scholar in Mongolian and Tibetan languages, with a Phd from Harvard. After living in Tibet and exploring the Himalayan regions for more than a decade, Hamid began taking expeditions to the Mongolian outback to document a country where the majority of people are nomadic. The Dukha people have developed a unique relationship with neighboring reindeer and they are also known as the “Tsaatan,” a term that means “reindeer herder.” These days, there are only about 40 or so Dukha families left, a total 200-400 people and the reindeer population is diminishing too. They survive, primarily, off of the tourist industry as people visit and pay money for performances, crafts, and yes, reindeer rides. The Dukha train the reindeer, wolves ad also golden eagles to aid in hunting and they believe they have a spiritual connection to all animals. Eagle hunting in Mongolia is an old tradition that has passed from generation to generation and they tame eagles and use them for hunting smaller animals, such as foxes and marmots. Have a look at these amazing photos…

(Photos, Hamid Sardar-Afkhami)