Azerbaijan fights to protect national animal from extinction

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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.
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National sport – Players riding Karabakh horses play Chovgan, an early form of polo, in Baku ahead of the European Games in the Azerbaijani capital.
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Azerbaijan's national emblem – Cross-breeding and the Armenian-Azerbaijani war has seen numbers of the Karabakh decrease significantly.
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Meeting their match – Players prepare for a game of Chovgan on a sunny afternoon in Baku.
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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.
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