The President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, has inaugurated the Wildlife Research Station located in the Kızılırmak Delta. The station will operate under the Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Wildlife Research Institute. The event was attended by the Governor of Samsun, Orhan Tavlı, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Halis Yunus Ersöz, YÖK Executive Board Member Prof. Dr. Naci Gündoğan, OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, Samsun University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Aydın, OMU Veterinary Faculty Head of Wild Animal Diseases Prof. Dr. Özlem Nisbet, and other academics.

After the opening ceremony, Özvar released a "red-backed shrike" that had been ringed and recorded at the station. He gathered information about the institute from academics and conducted bird-watching in the Kızılırmak Delta using binoculars.

"International Recognition of This Place is Exceedingly Important"

Following the opening, Özvar emphasized the importance of the institute, the first of its kind in Türkiye, dedicated to wildlife research. "The international recognition of this institute is crucial. It is exciting that this initiative is taking place here at Ondokuz Mayıs University in Samsun. The institute will conduct comprehensive studies, including disease diagnosis, treatment, and reintroduction of wild animals, birds, and other creatures to their natural habitats. Not only diagnosing and treating wildlife but also continuing life sustainability efforts will be major focuses of the institute. It is possible to have international faculty members at the institute, and should we find faculty members for temporary research assignments, the institute will begin to gain international recognition. I believe employing a certain number of faculty members at the institute could be possible through Article 46."

"The Institute Will Fully Emerge Within a Year"

OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal stated, “We will review the entire inventory of bird species in Türkiye, gather and analyze this data. The institute will fully emerge in all its dimensions within a year. Additionally, this place is planned as a first aid unit. We didn’t want to establish a new clinic. Physicians here will be able to intervene, and patient transfers can be facilitated.”

The program concluded with a group photo of the protocol members.

OMU Wildlife Research Institute Research Station

At the OMU Wildlife Research Institute Research Station, activities and studies are planned across numerous areas, including diagnosis and treatment of diseases in wild animals, combating diseases, care, feeding, and rehabilitation of injured animals, ensuring their welfare, preserving valuable ecosystems like steppes and wetlands, promoting biodiversity, and preventing species extinction to sustain genetic resources.