Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci shared the latest images of the Anatolian Leopard, one of the endangered species, recorded with camera traps in two different regions.
In his post on his social media account, Minister Kirişci said, “The Anatolian Leopard has been seen again in two different regions. We will continue to follow his trail and watch his path with excitement. This ancient land is his homeland forever, may his majesty be forever.” used the phrases.
The Anatolian Leopard, which has been traced with camera traps in our country in recent years, was recently photographed in two different places. Before that, the Anatolian Leopard, whose images were shared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in October 2022, was found to travel more than 25 kilometers per day, according to the findings.
The General Directorate of Eastern Conservation and National Parks (DKMP), affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has taken an important step towards the detection and protection of the endangered Anatolian Leopard in our country and to prepare an action plan.
TRACKED WITH PHOTOTRAPS
Studies on wildlife, which is a very difficult area, are carried out by making use of photo traps with the development of technology.
Wild animals are affected as little as possible by the human factor, and the accuracy and reliability rate of the obtained data is high in the studies carried out with approximately 3 thousand camera traps placed in nature throughout the country.
With camera trap studies, information such as the distribution areas of the species, population dynamics, population densities, identification of individuals can be revealed with precise data.
The endangered Anatolian Leopard, also known as the "Anatolian Leopard", is being traced by the DKMP General Directorate with photo traps placed in nature in recent years.
TRACKING STARTED ON TRACKS AND SIGNS
While the Anatolian Leopard, which was killed in Ankara's Beypazarı district in 1974, was thought to be the last individual belonging to this species and became extinct in our country, the search activities were initiated upon the traces and signs found during the fieldworks of the DKMP General Directorate, with findings to the contrary.
As a result of the work started in a region for the first time, photos of a male Leopard individual were reflected on the camera on August 25, 2019.
Thereupon, efforts to prepare a national action plan came to the fore and systematic data collection activities began.
During the process, another male individual was identified in studies conducted in a different region in our country.
As a result of the evaluation of the notifications received by the DKMP General Directorate, it was determined that there were leopard individuals in at least four different areas in our country.
Although it is not possible to talk about a regular population of Leopards in our country at this stage, a Leopard research unit was established and Leopard Action Plan studies were initiated in order to urgently identify existing-potential habitats with a comprehensive research.
PARS RESEARCH AND MONITORING COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED
For a project in which experts from Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Düzce University, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, World Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Feline Experts Group and DKMP 6th Regional Directorate took part in the creation of the action plan, to create a scientific base. The application made to TÜBİTAK was accepted.
On January 18, 2023, the “Pars Research and Monitoring Cooperation Protocol” was signed between the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and Isparta University of Applied Sciences.
With the studies to be carried out within the scope of the project and protocols, a distribution map of the Anatolian Leopard subspecies will be created in our country, and signs such as traces, excrement, and carrion will be investigated in possible areas. In addition, the identification of individuals in these areas by interviewing local people, taking protection and development measures and putting them into practice, especially finding female individuals for the future of the population will be among the important topics of the action plan.
THREE DIFFERENT SUBMISSIONS WERE THOUGHT TO BE THE SAME SUBMISSIONS
On September 20-22, 2022, the 1st Leopard Range Countries Meeting was held in Georgia, within the scope of the Migratory Species Convention Central Asian Mammal Working Group.
At this meeting, as a result of genetic studies of Caucasian Leopard (P. pardus ciccaucasica), Persian Leopard (P. pardus saxicolor) and Anatolian Leopard (P. pardus tulliana), which were distributed in these countries and were thought to be different subspecies before, it was discussed that the same subspecies information was presented.
For this reason, in accordance with the rules of scientific naming, according to the rule of accepting the name given first from different names given to the same species, “P. pardus tulliana” (Anatolian Leopard) was accepted as the scientific name for the subspecies seen all over the geography.
Also at this meeting, a Regional Action Plan for this subspecies was prepared and adopted.
MORE THAN 25 KILOMETERS TURN LINES PER DAY
According to the findings obtained from the studies carried out, the Anatolian Leopard, like many predatory mammals, makes an effort to hunt and protect its habitat.
A large number of images and video recordings of the Anatolian Leopard have been accessed by the DKMP General Directorate.
Accordingly, it was determined that the Anatolian Leopard traveled more than 25 kilometers in a one-day period.
The Anatolian Leopard was re-imaged in two separate regions.
We will continue to follow his trail and watch his path with excitement.
This ancient land is his homeland forever, may his majesty be forever. pic.twitter.com/EAs63zPuPF
— Prof.Dr.Vahit Kirişci (@VahitKirisci) January 26, 2023
Be the first to comment