Photographer Luke Oppenheimer traveled to the remote Kyrgyz village of Ottuk in 2021 for a short assignment on wolves preying on livestock, but ended up staying for four years. His project, titled 'Ottuk' and published by Aliens in Residence, documents the lives of shepherds who hunt wolves to protect their herds in the Tien Shan mountains, capturing their ancient way of life, harsh winters, and the legends that shape their community.
This story matters because it offers an intimate visual record of a vanishing way of life in Central Asia, where climate, tradition, and survival are deeply intertwined. Oppenheimer's long-term immersion reveals the resilience of a community facing extreme conditions, while also highlighting broader themes of human-animal conflict, cultural heritage, and the fragility of rural livelihoods in a rapidly changing world.