Head of Turkish pigeon breeders warns: 700 year old cultural treasure at risk

Baser said that in order to prevent such well-known Turkish pigeons as the "Sebap," "Hunkar," "Selcuklu," "Adana," and many others from losing their unique abilities and looks, Turkey needs to urgently take claim of the pigeons, which represent an estimated 700 year history in Turkish culture. Said Baser, "This 700 year cultural treasure belonging to Turkey risks being wiped out due to incorrect breeding. For this reason, breeders need to be under the control and authority of special boards made up of experts. Another problem we are facing is that some of these pigeons are being brought to other countries by Turks living abroad, or by foreigners who have their own interest in pigeons. Other countries are trying to claim these pigeons as their own, when in fact these pigeons are really from Turkey."
 
One example of a special Turkish pigeon is the "Hunkar" (meaning "king")  pigeon, a crested white bird which originates from Izmir and Manisa, which was bred in the Ottoman castles of Sehzade. Though official permission was only given for this bird to be bred in castles during the Ottoman Empire, some say non-royal circles would try and capture this bird to breed it secretly in caves at the time.