“The modern-day fable of cross-species friendship”
by
The New York Times
Ben Hubbard and Safak Timur
Photographs by Ivor Prickett
Eskikaraagac, Turkey
Thirteen years ago, in a quaint Turkish village, a humble fisherman named Adem Yilmaz experienced a remarkable encounter that would shape the course of his life. As he went about his daily routine of retrieving nets from the tranquil waters of a nearby lake, he was startled by the presence of a magnificent white stork perched gracefully on the bow of his rowboat. The bird, with its gleaming white feathers and imposing stature, captured Adem’s attention like never before. Little did he know that this chance meeting would mark the beginning of an extraordinary friendship that would captivate not only his village but also the hearts of people across Turkey.