Azerbaijan fights to protect national animal from extinction
Photos:
Azerbaijan's national emblem – The Karabakh horse is known for its strength, speed and endurance. The animal is of great cultural importance to the people of Azerbaijan.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Photos:
National sport – Players riding Karabakh horses play Chovgan, an early form of polo, in Baku ahead of the European Games in the Azerbaijani capital.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Photos:
Azerbaijan's national emblem – Cross-breeding and the Armenian-Azerbaijani war has seen numbers of the Karabakh decrease significantly.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Photos:
Meeting their match – Players prepare for a game of Chovgan on a sunny afternoon in Baku.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Photos:
Azerbaijan's national emblem – Azerbaijan's Ministry of Agriculture has drawn up a number of horse breeding programs and taken steps to improve veterinary services to try and protect the breed and increase numbers.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
Photos:
Azerbaijan's national emblem – The mountain-steppe racing horse is named after the geographical region where it was originally bred. The Karabakh horse is the result of cross-breeding and stands out with what's been described as its 'golden glow.'
Hide Caption
6 of 7
Photos:
Azerbaijan's national emblem – A German company is assisting the Azerbaijani government with gene research by establishing the horses genetic profiling and setting up a system of identification to track the breed.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
