Famed horses of Turkey’s Cappadocia to be microchipped

By Behcet Alkan

NEVSEHIR, Turkey (AA) - The renowned horses of central Turkey’s Cappadocia region will have microchips implanted under their skin to monitor their movements and screen their health.

Turkey's provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry will implant the chips in the necks of horses, mules and donkeys who attract the attention of tourists visiting Cappadocia.

With the microchip, which will remain in the animals for a lifetime, information such as their gender, species, date and place of birth and previous illnesses and treatments can be viewed using a digital reader.

Bayram Okcesiz, an official from the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, told Anadolu Agency that the equine animals were recorded in the ministry’s database in case of any diseases with a risk of transmission to humans.

"We first started our work from the town of Goreme, since the horses here are mostly used for tourist trips in Cappadocia. It will continue in all villages and towns. The microchips are specially prepared for each animal and applied under the skin," said Okcesiz.

He said all identifications would be completed by the end of the year.

Rahmi Ozgur, the owner of a company that offers tours by horseback to tourists in the region, said he was happy about the new system and added that such tours have a very important place in Cappadocia.

“The foals and horses we breed are tested and chipped. It’s happening."