Ege Coğrafya Dergisi

Öz

The Turks who kept the Anatolian lands home, were
moved to pastures in summer and overwinterings in winter due to the effect of
nomadic cultures and livestock activities. Because of the necessity of
lifestyle, the activities of plateau are still confronted as an economic
activity in many regions even today. Although the activities of livestock
breeding have lost their function today, it is still possible to see traces of
this tradition in many parts of our country. The aim of this study is to evaluate
the nomadic lifestyle, livestocks doing and to evaluate the problems which they
encountered of the Yoruks in the Arslanköy plateau, which is a neighborhood of
the Toroslar central district of Mersin Province.  For this purpose, the Arslanköy plateau has
reached the Yoruks, which is located far away from each other, scattered and
located in deserted places. The data were obtained in July 2017 by in-depth
interviewing and observation method with the nomads. This study has been dealt
with in the form of a case study which is a qualitative research model. In the
study, snowball sampling method was used from non-random sample types. The
places where they have been taken are displayed with permission from the
nomads. In addition, a large literature search on nomads was conducted. In the light
of obtained data, Arslanköy’s Yoruks; physical geographical features of their
area, daily life styles, cultures, immigration process, animal breeding and
problems they have experienced have been tried to be evaluated. At the same
time, attempts have been made to identify alternative methods for treating
animal diseases because of the difficulty they have experienced in terms of
spatial availability in benefiting from veterinary services. Yoruks in the
region, despite the difficult living conditions and the problems they
encounter, continue to carry out livestock activities due to spring. In order
to prevent the decline in farming areas in Turkey, it is important to support
the activities of nomadic livestock which depends on transhumance and to make
new investments.