Wildlife

Towards the end of the Quaternary Era, when the earth’s continents assumed their current configuration, the planet experienced four ice ages. During the cold periods, the glaciers expanded. Animals moved southward to seek warmer living environments, such as the Anatolian Peninsula. Migration was a strategy that enabled them to survive periods of glaciation. The end of the ice ages prompted some to move back to their former habitats. Others adapted to life in their new homelands. This explains why Turkey’s wildlife includes species of northern origin.

Centuries of human habitation have caused many species to become extinct, losing out in the competition for living space. Lions and tigers disappeared from the Turkish landscape during the 19th century and the 1970s, respectively. Anatolian leopards, though near extinction, are believed to remain in small numbers. Used in gladiator battles by the Romans, Anatolian leopards were a popular subject for murals and sculptures in ancient times, reflecting their importance to the people who lived in those times. Other animals found in Turkey include the monk seal, bottlenose dolphin, wolves, and brown bears, as well as numerous birds, both migratory and endemic.