Officials in Turkey’s central province of Çorum have fined a livestock farm after footage showed cattle kept immobile in deep mud ahead of the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The images, which sparked outrage online about two months before the Islamic holiday known for animal sacrifice, showed cattle standing in thick mud that restricted their movement at the facility.
Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said in a statement on its social media account on Wednesday that it had launched an immediate investigation after the footage surfaced on social media.
Officials from the Çorum Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry inspected the farm and imposed a fine under relevant animal welfare regulations, according to local media reports.
The ministry said measures were also taken to address the conditions affecting the animals’ health and well-being. “Care areas were cleaned and necessary arrangements were made to ensure that animals are housed under appropriate conditions,” the ministry said on X.
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It added that negligence or mistreatment harming animals’ health and welfare would “never be tolerated.”
The case comes as Turkey prepares for Eid al-Adha, when millions of animals are slaughtered as part of religious sacrifice rituals. The four-day-long holiday will begin to be observed on May 27.
Demand for livestock typically increases sharply in the weeks leading up to the holiday, raising periodic concerns from animal rights advocates about conditions in which animals are kept and transported.
Growing debate over animal welfare in Turkey
The incident in Çorum has revived debate about animal welfare in Turkey, an issue that has become increasingly contentious in recent years, particularly following a controversial amendment to the country’s Animal Protection Law adopted in August 2024.
The legislation requires municipalities to collect stray dogs and put them in shelters, while allowing animals considered dangerous, terminally ill or unsuitable for adoption to be euthanized under veterinary regulations.
The law, passed with support from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), sparked widespread protests from animal rights groups and opposition politicians, who warned that it could pave the way for mass killings of stray animals.
Activists say reports of violence against animals have increased since the legislation took effect. Claims of mass dog killings have emerged in municipalities run by the AKP in Niğde and Ankara provinces, prompting an outcry on social media, although local authorities have denied any wrongdoing.
The controversy has intensified debate over how Turkey should address its large stray dog population, estimated at around 4 million.
Animal rights advocates argue that large-scale sterilization programs and better shelter conditions are needed to control the population humanely, warning that reliance on euthanasia risks encouraging further abuse of animals.