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