The eastern city of Erzincan is ready for the upcoming Qurban Bayram, with its team of sacrificial animal catchers practicing around the clock to prevent escaped animals from creating havoc.

During Qurban Bayram (Feast of Sacrifice), also known as Eid al-Adha, which begins on Sept. 24 this year, Muslims sacrifice animals, such as a sheep, goats, cows or even camels in commemoration of Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son as an act of submission to the will of God, who spared him from this task by enabling him to sacrifice a ram instead.

However, every year during the bayram, hundreds of animals escape their owners, running around the streets causing chaos before being captured. In order to address the problem, the Erzincan Municipality has formed a team of catchers, who will ride horses or drive four-wheeled motorcycles to comb the neighborhoods in two-person teams.

Catchers have been training to get in shape and learn how to subdue panicked animals without causing any harm to the animals. Teams will use lasso or stun guns to catch the animals.

Erzincan Municipality Public Relations Manager Celil Atilla Uymaz said they aimed to provide the owners with the best possible service, while the leading catcher, İlhami Kurtalan, said their priority was to prevent animals hurting themselves or anyone else.