Camel wrestling

Camel wrestling (Turkish: deve güreşi) is a sport that is common in the Aegean Sea region of Turkey. In the sport, two male Tülü camels wrestle each other. This is normally caused by a female camel in heat being put where they can see her. The sport is also held in other parts of the Middle East and South Asia.

A Tülü is a hybrid of Bactrian camel and dromedary.[1] Camel wrestling in Turkey is hold by the Yörüks.[2]

History

Camel fighting was started by ancient Turkic tribes over 1000 years ago.[3][4] Camels also wrestle in the wild. This has been happening since before nomads began doing it.[5] In the 1920s, the Turkish National Aviation league had held camel fights to get money to buy airplanes for the Turkish government.[6] The government tried to stop them from doing this in the 1920s. They said that it as too backwards of a practice. In the 1980s, the new government of Turkey began supporting it as part of the historic culture of Turkey.[7]

Event details

Because of the need of a nearby female camel, the events are normally held during mating season.[5] The camels use their necks to try to make the other camel fall down. A camel wins if the other camel falls to the ground or runs from the fight.[8] Most fighting camels are bred in either Iran or Afghanistan.[5][3] A good fighting camel can be sold for over $20,000.[8]

The events can be dangerous to the people watching them if the camels try to run away through the crowd.[9]

There are about thirty festivals in Aegean Turkey each year. They take place from November to March. Events always take place on Sundays in football stadiums.[5] At the end of the season, a tournament is held in which the best camels compete.[5] Many tourists go to the events. They are a large part of tourist industry in Western Anatolia.

Several animal rights organizations say that camel wresting is cruelty to animals.[7]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-Turkish-F1-hybrid-tuelue-showing-the-typically-elongated-hump-named-almond-hump-in_fig4_340244750
  2. ↑ "Camel wrestling festival: A legacy of Turkey's Yörük culture". Daily Sabah. 18 January 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Christie-Miller, Alexander (27 January 2011). "Turkey: Tradition of Camel Wrestling Making a Comeback". EurasiaNet. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  4. ↑ Kinzer, Stephen (19 January 2000). "Selcuk Journal; In These Prizefights, Camels Wrestle for Carpets". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Dogu, Evin (2009). Caroline Trefler (ed.). Fodor's Turkey (7 ed.). New York: Fodor's. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-4000-0815-5. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "Camels, Lords of Dying Race, to Fight it Out at Stambol". The Miami News. Associated Press. 29 January 1929. p. J30. Retrieved 16 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Parkinson, Joe (22 January 2011). "What's a Bigger Draw Than a Camel Fight? A Camel Beauty Contest, of Course". Wall Street Journal. p. A1. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Whiting, Dominic (2000). Turkey Handbook. London: Footprint. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-900949-85-9. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  9. ↑ "Fethiye Times Meets a Camel!". Fethiye Times. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2011.

Other websites