Filename: WAM36683 Headline: A bull camel used for camel wrestling at a festival stares into the camera as he is surrounded by men who muzzle him after a fight. Special handlers are assigned to muzzle the camels once a match is finished. Canakkale Province, Turkiye, 2023. Jane Mar / We Animals Description: Wrestling of bull camels in rut is a 2,400-year-old Turkish cultural tradition popular in the country’s western provinces. Occurring from November to March, these wrestling festivals can attract thousands of people, and the events purportedly receive political support. The tradition is reputedly passed from father to son, involving families acquiring male camels specifically for competition. Typically, these animals are housed on a family's farm and transported to wrestling festivals in various cities. Some individuals and businesses also engage in camel wrestling for the prestige and attention associated with owning a winning animal. Historically, champion camels have fetched up to $20,000 USD or more. During competitions, camels awaiting their turn wear muzzles, hobbles and brightly coloured cloth advertising their names. Bull camels are not always naturally combative without stimuli, such as a female camel in heat. As a result, during competitions, men in the ring push or pull the animals toward each other, shout and sometimes strike them to provoke aggression and entertain festival attendees. Points are awarded for a camel's moves, and the owners of the winning animal receive a trophy and a cash prize. Outside the ring, camels are restrained and kept closely together, exacerbating the male's mouth-foaming, which occurs during the rut. Equipment is used to prevent them from rolling and rubbing their bodies on the ground to take a sand bath, which is part of their natural behaviour. Our photojournalist also observed many animals engaged in repetitive stereotypical movements. In this region, camel meat sausage is commonly consumed, and camels that consistently lose matches over time are sent to slaughter. Area of Focus: Entertainment and Work City: Undislcosed Province/State: Çanakkale province Country: Türkiye Photographer/Filmmaker: *Jane Mar Credit: Jane Mar / We Animals Year: 2023 License Type(s): Non-Commercial Use, Commercial Use Release status: No release WA Keywords: Size: 8192px X 5464px

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