مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The Transhumance Activities and Problems of the Mersin-Arslanköy Yoruks

Abstract :

The Turks who kept the Anatolian lands home, were moved to pastures in summer and overwinterings in winter due to the effect of nomadic cultures and livestock activities. Because of the necessity of lifestyle, the activities of plateau are still confronted as an economic activity in many regions even today. Although the activities of livestock breeding have lost their function today, it is still possible to see traces of this tradition in many parts of our country. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nomadic lifestyle, livestocks doing and to evaluate the problems which they encountered of the Yoruks in the Arslanköy plateau, which is a neighborhood of the Toroslar central district of Mersin Province. For this purpose, the Arslanköy plateau has reached the Yoruks, which is located far away from each other, scattered and located in deserted places. The data were obtained in July 2017 by indepth interviewing and observation method with the nomads. This study has been dealt with in the form of a case study which is a qualitative research model. In the study, snowball sampling method was used from non-random sample types. The places where they have been taken are displayed with permission from the nomads. In addition, a large literature search on nomads was conducted. In the light of obtained data, Arslanköy’s Yoruks; physical geographical features of their area, daily life styles, cultures, immigration process, animal breeding and problems they have experienced have been tried to be evaluated. At the same time, attempts have been made to identify alternative methods for treating animal diseases because of the difficulty they have experienced in terms of spatial availability in benefiting from veterinary services. Yoruks in the region, despite the difficult living conditions and the problems they encounter, continue to carry out livestock activities due to spring. In order to prevent the decline in farming areas in Turkey, it is important to support the activities of nomadic livestock which depends on transhumance and to make new investments.