Camel wrestling is definitely one of the more controversial attractions that Turkey has to offer, but there’s no denying its popularity with the locals.
Last weekend saw thousands of Turkish ungulate fans turn out to witness the annual Camel Wrestling Championships in Selcuk, an event which saw more than a hundred camels decked out in fluorescent pompoms and veiled headdresses as they fought for the affections of waiting females, reports AP.
Camels battle it out in Turkey. Image courtesy of yenney?
While some might be horrified at the thought of watching camels battle it out as a form of entertainment, AP reports that males naturally fight one another for the right to ‘get it on’ with females during mating season.
What’s more, the animals are rarely harmed – simply because their owners don’t want to lose them. Instead of their being an overall championship winner, each camel only does battle once in a never-ending series of mini-scraps. A winner is declared when one of the camels is pushed out of the battle arena, or falls over, ensuring the fights rarely get too violent.
Indeed, AP reports that most of the fights in this year’s Camel Wrestling Championship ended in a draw, because many owners were too scared to let their animals fight for long. Camels are highly prized in Turkey, and seen by many as a symbol of power and status.
The report adds that camel wrestling is a popular spectator sport during winter, when the camels are in mating season and when farmers have more time on their hands.
Video via APTV on YouTube.com
