Metropolitan cities across Türkiye are gearing up for the upcoming Qurban Bayram holiday by implementing measures to ensure the safety and well-being of residents. In Istanbul, the Metropolitan Municipality has established “Bull Capture Teams” to swiftly respond to any incidents involving escaped sacrificial animals. These teams, strategically located at animal care facilities, are prepared to address reports of wandering livestock and reunite them with their owners.
To facilitate sacrificial animal sales and slaughtering services, the municipality will offer these services at five modern facilities. Additionally, 240,000 hygienic sacrificial bags will be distributed free of charge to citizens for packaging the meat from the sacrificed animals.
In Antalya, a 7-person victim capture team has been formed to manage escaped sacrificial animals during the holiday. This specialized team has undergone rigorous training, including exercises on approaching and capturing animals using a rifle and tranquilizer needle. Veterinarian İsmail Zeybek, who leads the team, emphasized the importance of administering tranquilizers to calm escaped animals before capturing them.
Similarly, Gaziantep has assembled a dedicated unit under the Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Natural Life Protection to address the challenge of stray sacrificial animals. This team of 15 individuals has undergone comprehensive training in tranquilizer usage and lasso techniques to ensure a swift and effective response to reports of escaped animals.
The team in Gaziantep will be on duty from the eve of Bayram, responding to reports of illegal animals through the 153 hotline. They will use their training to safely and efficiently capture escaped animals and return them to their owners. If necessary, the team will utilize tranquilizers to calm aggressive animals before reuniting them with their rightful owners.
These proactive measures taken by metropolitan cities aim to prevent any potential disruptions during the Qurban Bayram holiday and ensure a smooth and safe celebration for all residents. By establishing specialized capture teams and providing necessary resources, local authorities are working to uphold the traditions of the holiday while prioritizing the well-being of both the animals and the community.
