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High in the Bercelan Plateau of Hakkari, at an altitude of 3,300 meters, a 21-year-old nomadic girl named Halime Calp has formed an unbreakable bond with two lambs rejected by their mothers.
Halime, the daughter of a nomadic family who traveled from Batman to graze their livestock on the plateau's fertile summer pastures, has taken on the role of surrogate mother to the abandoned lambs.
When two ewes in the family's flock refused to nurse their newborns roughly a month ago, Halime stepped in and began bottle-feeding the lambs, now four and three weeks old, to keep them alive and healthy.
Since their first days, the lambs have slept beside Halime in the family's tent, forming a bond so close that they now follow her everywhere she goes.
Whether she is washing dishes, fetching water, or making cheese, the two lambs trail behind Halime, refusing to leave her side.
The Bercelan Plateau, located about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Hakkari's city center, draws nomadic herders each summer with its cool climate, cold-water springs, and rich grazing land.
Halime explained that when lambs are not nursed by their mothers, both the lambs and the ewes can become weak, which is why her family steps in with bottle-feeding to protect the flock's health.
Beyond her daily work with the animals, Halime is also preparing for her future, having graduated from high school three years ago with plans to pursue university and take Türkiye's Public Personnel Selection Examination.
Despite the hardships of nomadic life, Halime says she has grown used to its rhythms, finding joy and purpose in caring for the animals that depend on her.
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