Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Biodiversity and Global Changes: A Conservation Perspective 2nd Conference of Conservation Biology for Early Career Researchers, L'aquila, İtalya, 6 - 09 Mayıs 2025, (Yayınlanmadı)
Deer have held a significant place in Turkish culture since ancient times. The traditional nomadic lifestyle of Turkic tribes, characterized by hunting and herding, often overlapped with the habitat of deer. Among these tribes, deer hunting is strictly regulated, with the hunting of fawns and pregnant females strictly forbidden. This prohibition stems from ethical considerations and the belief that such actions bring misfortune. Big game, including deer, was reserved for the elite, with the public barred from hunting them. Organized hunting expeditions were common, with much of the game meat being distributed among the people. In the late Ottoman period, the decline of hunting organizations led to unregulated hunting practices. After the establishment of the Republic, the 1937 Hunting Law aimed to protect red deer on paper; however, widespread poaching continued well into the early 2000s. Scientific studies on red deer began around the 1990s, marking a delayed interest in their conservation. Despite increased awareness in recent years, improved economic conditions, and nearly a century of conservation status, red deer populations remain vulnerable. The primary threats include poaching, predation by wolves and other predators, some forestry activities that disregard the habitat needs of red deer, and human-induced stress. Although limited population growth has enabled controlled hunting for tourism, with fewer than 100 red deer hunted annually over the past 20 years, there remains a lack of effective long-term strategies and comprehensive scientific studies to address these threats.