Turkish adventurers launch campaign to save street animals

The nature sports and off-road club of central Niğde province (NİDOFF) has initiated a project to feed and care for stray animals. Stray animals that have a hard time finding food due to harsh winter conditions are the focus of club members, photographers and nature wanderers, who visit the villages of Turkey and locate the animals that are in need of their help.

Ümit Kaya, the president of the club, said that NİDOFF supports countless events and organizations under the name of social responsibility. Saying that stray animals are afraid of people as they are sometimes exposed to violence, Kaya continued: "We locate them and leave the area after dropping off their food. We later return to the area to check. We continue to care for the animals and feed them until summertime when they can find their own food."

Zeynep Büyükçelen, one of the volunteers, drew attention to the fact that human beings are able to express their despair, whereas animals do not possess such ability. Büyükçelen said she tries to raise awareness about stray animals with the photographs she takes and continued: "I have been interested in photography for the last four years. I want to draw people's attention to the stray animals by posting the photos I take on social media."