The "1st National Wildlife Workshop," organized by the Ondokuz Mayıs University Wildlife Research Institute, commenced at the Atatürk Congress and Culture Center with the participation of numerous experts from different regions of Türkiye.

Over the course of two days, presentations will be made on Climate Change and the Sustainability of Biodiversity, Wildlife Population Management and Conservation Biology, and Wild Animal Diseases and Rehabilitation.

The program, held at the Atatürk Congress and Culture Center, was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, 11th Regional Director of Nature Conservation and National Parks Resul Doğan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, Director of the Wildlife Research Institute Prof. Dr. Hatice Özlem Nisbet, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, academicians from different regions of Türkiye, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

"Developments Threatening the Ecosystem and Causing Damage Are Happening"

Speaking at the workshop, Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal stated, "Wildlife research is no longer just a virtue. It has become a mandatory field of study for the sake of humanity. The reason is that humanity is pushing its own apocalypse. The relentless pursuit of gain, domination, and occupation that began with the Industrial Revolution has affected people and started to break the chain in the universe. If the issue of stray animals is being discussed today and seen as a threat, it is actually due to irresponsible humans. You can easily abandon an animal you purchased for a lot of money on the street shortly after. This situation disrupts and breaks the ecosystem without considering what the animal experiences or the people living in that area go through.”

Highlighting that wildlife research has now become a necessity, Rector Ünal continued his speech:

“It has become a necessity for humanity and the universe. It has become a necessity for the reconfiguration of the ecosystem. Türkiye has some advantages. Türkiye can become a focal point for wildlife with this treasure it possesses. It has rich habitats and species. Unless data processing can be done, this data remains a burden. Developments that can create damage threatening the ecosystem are happening. We are a country rich in fish diversity, but a species referred to as the Israeli Carp threatens the entire existence due to some of its characteristics. It has no nutritional value or special features, but it has reached a point where it threatens the entire existence except itself. I am giving an example of the Israeli Carp, but it is the same for other similar issues."

"Wildlife is an Important Part of Biodiversity"

Resul Doğan, 11th Regional Director of Nature Conservation and National Parks in Samsun, highlighted that Türkiye is home to 12,100 plant species, 175 mammal species, 500 bird species, 403 fish species, and 146 reptile species. Emphasizing that this richness is greater than that of the European continent, Doğan said:

"Wildlife constitutes an important part of biodiversity. Nowadays, this diversity is increasingly threatened by human activities. Habitat loss, climate change, illegal hunting, and environmental pollution are making the survival struggle of many species more difficult. Protecting the natural habitats of wild animals and managing their interactions with humans is of vital importance. At this point, we are creating national parks, nature parks, wetlands, nature conservation areas, wildlife development areas, and wildlife protection areas. We protect wild animals, removed from human interaction through hunting bans, to allow them to reproduce."

"The World Population is Increasing, and Natural Resources Are Being Rapidly Consumed"

OMU Wildlife Research Institute Director Prof. Dr. Hatice Özlem Nisbet stated, "The human population has multiplied over the last 200 years, exceeding 8 billion as of 2024, and continues to grow rapidly. This increase means that natural resources are being consumed faster than ever by billions of people on the planet. Particularly, climate change, habitat fragmentation and pollution, the introduction of invasive species, uncontrolled fishing and poaching, the loss of biodiversity, and the degradation of natural environments threaten the ecosystem diversity that supports all life on this planet. Changes in the ecosystem also lead to the emergence of infectious and zoonotic diseases that have negative health consequences for humans, animals, and our shared environment. Wildlife is integral to the world's ecosystems and provides balance and stability to nature's processes. The goal of protecting wildlife is to ensure the survival of these species and to educate people on living sustainably with other species."

"We Have Served an Average of 30,000 Patients in the Last 2 Years"

Lastly, the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, expressed, “We are pleased to be with you in such an important event. I hope this event organized by the Wildlife Research Institute will significantly benefit valuable scientists. I would especially like to thank Prof. Dr. Hatice Özlem Nisbet, who has significantly contributed to the program and important academic studies on wildlife. With the support of our Rectorate, we have treated many wild animals in our Animal Hospital in recent years, enabling them to return to nature. We remain an important health institution in the region by serving an average of 30,000 patients in the last two years. Additionally, with our faculty moving to the new service building, we aim to increase our education and research quality."

Following the opening speeches, experts made presentations at the workshop.