Wild Animals In Turkey

Wild Life in Turkey  Turkey, especially Anatolia, hosts wider vegetation and species compared to her neighbourhood. Also, our country has got a vast fauna since it is a bridge between Asia and Europe and embodies different climate zones. Three are 160 mammals, 466 birds, 120 reptiles, 22 frogs,127 fresh water fish,384 sea fish. In total there are 1279 types of vertebrates. With these features, our country is the one that has got the widest fauna in Europe and Middle East. If we come to the wild life’s presence in Turkey, these are the most emphatic examples:

10.The Wolf  The wolves, which has got an important role in Turkish Mythology, live in especially mountainsides as small herds. In Turks’ old beliefs and myths they are sacred animals and it is believed that they pray to Tengri (god) as they are howling towards heaven. They generally live in a herd. A herd includes the father, mother and puppies. Father and mother is always unpermissive to children and there is a hierarchy in the family and no one of them violates this.

9.Brown Bear  One the largest carnivores, is seen particularly in eastern Black Sea region. They decrease in number because of over-hunting.

8.Mediterreanean Seals  One of the largest home range of Mediterrenean seals, which are the cutest wild animals on our list, is our country. They live in only Turkey, Greece, Morocco, Moritania and Madeira Islands and it is estimated that their population is only 600. They usually prefer tranquility, and choose caves and cavities beside the sea and silent, peaceful shores as living spaces. They are directly affected by the pollution and deformation of those places.

7.Whale  In Turkey, 10 species can be observed even though some of them are very rare. Those are: 1.Long Whale, 1.Long Whale, 2.Cachalot, 2.Cachalot, 3.Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, 3.Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, 4.Black Dolphins 4.Black Dolphins 5.False Killer Whale. 5.False Killer Whale.

6.Shark  It is predicted that 34 of the 350 shark species in the world live in our seas. Even the most dangerous shark species, Big White Shark, is monitored many times in our waters. In our country the sharks which is named as Glass Eye are seen most frequently.

5.Mountain Sheep  Anatolian Mountain Sheep is the aim of the hunters because of its noble stance and magnificent beauty. It is announced that the number of the mountain sheep which were under protection in Konya Bozdağ and released to natural life in Karaman (our city) and Nallıhan decreased to 800. Thanks to efforts spent until 2004 their number increased but in recent years they are lessening. 

4.Bobcat and Caracal  The Bobcat, which is a type of wild cat, is five times bigger than a normal cat. The Bobcats which hunts at nights cannot be seen in daylight much often. Their presence has been observed in many parts of Anatolia.  Another wildcat Caracal is also chooses Anatolia as life space.Because of their low population in nature and and their well-hiding ability, it is hard to see them in wild life.They were photographed in 2002 by Batur Avgan for the first time and then they reappeared in records in July 2009 and April 2010 during a study conducted by Biologist Batur Avgan.

3.Hyaena  We came across the Hyaenas which are the symbolic living beings of Africa, in Southern Anatolia and Hatay in recent years. Also Hyaena Hyaenas which are observed in Şırnak, Şanlıurfa and Hatay leaded to the discussions on the presence of wild life in Anatolia one more time.

2.Anatolian Panther  Anatolian Panther is relative species of Persian Panther which epidemicly lives in Middle East and Western Asia.

1.Leopard Leopard which is killed by a shepherd in Diyarbakır in November 2013 inflamed the arguments about the presence of those wild animals in our country. Because the kind of the leopard which is killed was not detected, a certain name couldnot be determined. Whether it was an Anatolian Panther or another kind of leopard is not decisive. Leopard which is killed by a shepherd in Diyarbakır in November 2013 inflamed the arguments about the presence of those wild animals in our country. Because the kind of the leopard which is killed was not detected, a certain name couldnot be determined. Whether it was an Anatolian Panther or another kind of leopard is not decisive.

Wild Animals in Karaman  Mountain Sheep

Mountain Sheep

 As it is said before, mountain sheep were in the danger of extinction. Then they underwent the protection by the state and then released to the nature. By the time, their population increased and they adapted the wild life again. Now they are still under control and protection against the hunters or other dangers.

Jades

Jades  Years ago after people started to use machines in agriculture, the horses were released to the natural life in Karadağ which is a town near to the city center. Then, it is recorded that they adapted to the wild life and became the symbol of natural life and named as Yılkı Atı (Jades). Now their number is about 350.

Anatolian Mountain Goats

 They were also in danger of extinction but now the protection and inventory studies are strictly being conducted and their number is 175.

Thanks for listening… Thanks for listening… Vali Ali Akan Primary School Karaman/Turkey