Captivity to the Wild: Citizen Science Contributions and Conservation Prospects in Turkey


Creative Commons License

Per E.

DICE Twitter Conference, London, İngiltere, 8 - 09 Eylül 2023, cilt.1, sa.3, ss.11

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Cilt numarası: 1
  • Basıldığı Şehir: London
  • Basıldığı Ülke: İngiltere
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.11
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

For the last 48 years, escaped parrots have been observed in Turkey. Due to

human impact, in the 1990s, Alexandrine parakeets and rose-ringed parakeets

established populations in urban parks and gardens. Starting from the year 2016,

exotic parrots have been studied through citizen science. As a result of the impact

of social media, 17 species of escaped parrots have been identified in 21

provinces in Turkey. The re-capturing of species observed as escapees is

encouraged. Once tropical species are observed in the wild, they often disappear

due to the influence of climatic conditions and predator species. However, a few

temperate-zone parrots can survive in the wild for a certain period. For instance,

the Derbyan parakeet and plum-headed parakeet have been observed by

different observers in urban areas for over a year. However, these species have

not established populations. The trade in wildlife and illegal smuggling are the

main drivers of exotic parrots being in the wild in Turkey. During the COVID-19

pandemic, when trade was halted worldwide, smuggling cases increased in

Turkey. To address this issue, new regulations for wildlife trade should be

implemented in Turkey. The trade of invasive and endangered species should not

be permitted. To reduce smuggling cases, measures at border gates should be

enhanced, and public awareness should be raised.