Yörük herders begin seasonal migration back to Alanya coast

Yörük livestock herders in the Alanya district of Antalya have begun their seasonal migration from the high pastures of the Taurus Mountains back to the coast. Following a tradition spanning generations, these families move their small livestock to cooler elevations during the summer months to graze on natural pastures.

After spending approximately four to five months in highland areas such as Eğrigöl Akdam in the Gündoğmuş district and various plateaus in Akseki, the herders are returning to the coast due to dropping autumn temperatures. The migration to the mountains typically begins in late May and takes about ten days to complete.

Local herders, including Murat Uyar and İbrahim Erbay, noted that the movement is dictated by both seasonal weather changes and the natural instincts of the sheep, which seek cooler climates in the summer and warmer coastal areas in the winter.