30.04.2026 21:45
In the Beyşehir district of Konya, livestock breeder Ali Açar raised 50 small ruminants on an island in the lake without a shepherd and without expenses, while tracking his animals with a drone and encountered a surprise of newborn offspring.
Livestock breeder Ali Açar, living in the Beyşehir district of Konya, raises 50 small livestock on an island in Beyşehir Lake without a shepherd, away from the threat of wolves and foxes.
Beyşehir Lake, Turkey's largest freshwater lake, is home not only to fishing but also to livestock farming with its islands.
NATURAL PASTURE OPPORTUNITY ON THE ISLAND
Karaada, located at the foot of the Anamas Mountains, about 1 kilometer offshore in the Kurucuova Neighborhood, offers a natural pasture area for small livestock with its meadows. Ali Açar, a 56-year-old livestock breeder living in the Kurucuova Neighborhood, brought 50 small livestock to the 100-decare island, owned by the neighborhood residents, by boats in March. On the island, which predators such as wolves, foxes, and jackals cannot reach, the animals feed on green meadows and under the shade of fruit trees without needing a shepherd.
FOLLOWED WITH A DRONE, EXPERIENCED A SURPRISE WITH OFFSPRING
In a statement to an AA reporter, livestock breeder Ali Açar said that with the start of the fishing ban, motorboats do not go out on the lake, so access to the island is subject to certain permits. Stating that the permit processes take a long time, Açar had the opportunity to observe his animals, which he had not seen for about 1.5 months, with the AA team's drone.
Expressing great joy while watching the drone footage, Açar said, "I watched the animals on the island with the drone. There is a slight increase in the animals; goats and sheep have given birth. I cannot go to the island during the fishing ban; I followed them with the drone. I haven't seen the animals for about 1.5 months. This happens every year during the fishing season. It will continue like this until June 15."
COST-EFFECTIVE AND SAFE METHOD
Stating that he cannot feed his animals in the village, Açar said, "The animals graze on the island and drink water from the lake. They shelter under the trees. We do shepherdess livestock farming. They have no way to leave the island. They grow without feed supplementation. It is cost-effective. Since it is surrounded by the lake, they are comfortable on the island. There are no wolves or foxes. It has no pests. Without giving feed, our animals are fattening on the island."