Journalism of Courage
Turkey held its largest camel wrestling festival from January 15, 2022 to January 16, 2022. The camel wrestling festival is held during the mating season of camels, as the males are more aggressive if they are withheld from mating. The camels were competing as part of 80 pairs or 160 camels in the Efes Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival, the biggest and most prestigious festival, which celebrated its 40th run. The festival is held in the Aegean town of Selcuk, Turkey.
A camel is led into the arena during the wrestling festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Wrestling camels, bearing elaborately decorated saddles, parade during a contest in the festival. Camels were paraded in a beauty pageant titled "the most ornate camel contest" when they are decked out with colorful beaded muzzles, fabrics, pompoms, bells, and Turkish flags. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Musicians perform traditional folk songs, as spectators enjoy on the hill overlooking the arena where camels wrestle. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Camels wrestle during Turkey's largest camel wrestling festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Men dance during the camel wrestling festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A man prepares a camel during the wrestling festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A camel owner prepares his camel during a contest parade in festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A camel owner strokes his camel prior a contest parade in the wrestling festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Spectators watch camels wrestling during the festival. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
