special species of my land

General Characteristics

Kangal Dog
A Kangal Shephard dog which is not seen in any part of the world has a fair reputation in Turkey and the world. Particularly in England and the USA several associations have been established by lovers of this species, and several competitions have been held. Unfortunately, while people abroad have shown great interest to Kangal species, Turkey has not done the same for recent ten-fifteen years. Kangal Shepherd dogs are very brave, quick and agile. They are quite good to women and children and quite a dissuasive weapon against bad people as they are intelligent and strong insights and are faithful to their owners. When they are scolded by their owners, they are ashamed like a child, look so sad and innocent for begging their owners to forgive the mistake. They show their feelings not only through position, behaviours, mimics and gestures, but also various toned barking. Kangal dogs are so loyal to their duties. It is said that they wait for days to keep the sheep leaving the herd without having food and water. Despite ignoring lasting for centuries, they have not lost anything from their blood qualifications or high spirit. They are highly blood noble. They never mate with any other dog species even when they are free. They were started to be trained for military use in 1975 and it has been proved that they have better and more skills than other dog species being trained for military missions for centurie.
The characteristics of a good dog: 1. Intelligence: Intermediate-high level2. Trust: should not cause damage to herd and owner3. Care: should be interested in and careful to its duty.4. Protective: have reactions to foreign people (barking-attacking)5. Power: strong enough to stop enemy (wolf-thief)6. Speed: speed enough to run after and catch enemy 7. Brave: should be brave which, in our opinion is the most important one. Because the dog not being brave cannot be effective no matter if it has the other six characteristics.
It is possible to see all those characteristics in a Kangal at the highest level. That is why Kangal is number one among the other dogs in the world. How can you have one? You can purchase young Kangal dogs fed and grown up under control of vet with full vaccination in production farm under control of Union of Taking Services to Rural Areas (Villages) of Kangal Governor Office.

Van Cat
Every domestic animal has a different characteristic. One of the cats attracting human beings' attention for centuries, having silky white fur, different colours, perfect hunting abilities and loving to play with water is Van cat. Cerebrum area is wide and indicates the intelligence of them. In addition, cerebellum is improved, which provides excellence in co-ordination. Domesticated cats are either treated as holly creatures or are fed by people at home for hunting harmful animals like mouse, rat and insects for centuries. However, people have started to take them as close friends. In recent years one of the cats attracting people's attention in Turkey or in the world is Van cat. However, as required care has not been shown so far, they face loss of the species. The number of them has been decreasing day by day and the original breeds have been lost, while they were often seen in the region and almost each house had one in the past. People of Van call the cat "Pisik". Van cats are not only seen as a pet or hunter of rats and insects but also a friend and member of the family.It is said that Van cats used to spend summer in mountain and winter in houses. Today rarely they spend summer in Erek Mountain and summer in houses. Van cats are described by the people of region as having long, white, silky fur, long body, tiger walking, fox like tail. Different colours of eyes (Diskrematopsi), intelligent, agile is clean, friendly, loves playing and faithful to its owner and therefore these characteristics make it a rare found cat. However, since 1950s, the cat has been introduced to the world by Europeans but this unique cat has not been introduced fully. One of the characteristics of Van cats is the colour of their eyes. They are classified under three groups according to the colour of their eyes: a. Both eyes blue, b. both eyes amber colour (yellow and its tones) c. One eye(dischromatopsy, one eye blue and the other amber). Blue colour of Van cats usually shows turquoise blue but amber colour shows many differences in tones. The tones are amber, light amber, yellow and green almond. Although very rare, sometimes brown colour can be seen. Blue eyed cats are classified as blue eyed short, velvet furred cats and blue eyed long silky fur cats. The colour of newly born kittens is greyish. 25 days after birth the colour of eyes starts to change, and after 40 days the colour reaches final colour. There are generally one or two black points between ears of kittens. Most of the kittens having two black points are single eyed. And this black point is taken as stamp of single eye cats. However, the black points are lost after 2 months. And sometimes they may have black hairs varying in between 8 to 30. It is known that having different colour of eyes which human beings, dogs and doves face, is genetic defect syndrome.Body weight of female Van cats is 2900 grams while males weigh 3600 grams. Van cats have mating period in February-March-June. This period lasts for up to 10 days. In case of pregnancy during this period, no other mating period is seen in the same year. Pregnancy period is 62 days. The belly starts to swallow from the first month and the cat never lets any one touch her belly. Van cats like other cats prefer to give birth in the locations far away from vision, and for this reason they start to look for isolated and dark location from the first month of the pregnancy. Immediately after birth, Plasenta of the kittens are cut by the mother. Mother cat suckles its kittens for 50-60 days. However, this period can be more or less. Van cats give birth to four kittens at one birth. The eyes of kittens are open on the 10th day. Mother licks its kittens in order to clean them and starts suckling immediately after birth. If mother deems that the location is not safe, it finds a safe place and carries the kittens there. Mother hardly leaves its kittens alone and only leaves them to meet its needs. The kittens still with close eyes react to smells other than their mother and try to protect themselves. The movement of the kittens at the beginning is like walking and crawling. Kitten brothers/sisters usually fight for milk. They usually play with each other. Playing game is an essential factor for development. The game is under control of the mother and the mother teaches its kittens how to survive. If the kitten is alone, it wants to play with its mother and if mother is not there even it can play with other animals around. The cats have a strong control over the areas they are settled in. They do not want other cats to come to their living areas. When their living places or houses are changed, they try to return to former place if they do not like the new one. Van cats get used to their new living places in 20 to 30 days. During this period, they examine the surrounding and are not interested in their owners. The cats have more cleaning sense than other animals. They are considerably curious about cleanliness of themselves and their living surrounding. After toilet, they have instinct to burying the dirt. They clean their mouths and faces with help of their paws after eating and toilet.The hunting characteristic of Van cats is superior. They hunt raats, mice, bird, flies and insects indoor and outdoor, and eat them. They never attack to poultry animals living with them in the house or out of the house.Van cats love living with human beings in family environment. If they do not have relation with human beings or have a little relationship, they start to become wild. Van cats are very affectionate, giving head butts and love bites. Especially during pregnancy they are in need of love. They are very close to their owners and love them. When they see strangers, they react and escape. They jump on the lap of the ones loving them. They are jealous of their owners showing affection to other cats and small kids. Although there is a belief that Van cats suffer from deafness problem, only 2-3% of odd eyed (Diskromatopsy) and blue eyed cats suffer from this problem. Van cats love to swim and play with water, and with this feature it is the only cat species. Van cats checks the meal if it is warm with their front paws and if the meal is warm enough they eat. It is also observed that Van cats eat melon, watermelon and some fruit. Although the fur is quite thick, they are affected by the cold.They produce some voices in order to communicate with each other and with human beings. The voices indicate their emotions. Their meowing has some varieties. Some indicates communication with human beings some indicates communication with their kittens or for their sexual activities. The sounds generated according to their needs have different intensity and frequency. Van cats meow loudly when they see their owners in the morning in order to show their happiness. When they are hungry, they go to the kitchen door and meows to indicate that they are hungry. When the food is given, they show their grates by means of touching their owner. When they need toilet they go to the door and meow in order to ask their owners to open the door. It is also observed that if the door needs to be opened, they jump to the handle and open it. The studies indicated that Van Cats respond to training very well. They understand what have been taught very quickly. They immediately learn the place where soil is put for their toilet needs, and never try other places for toilet needs. Kittens are able to learn their names when they are 2-3 months. However, it is thought that this learning means understanding the tone of the sound they are used to rather than learning the names.It is necessary to take any actions required for preservation of lovely, friendly, intelligent, faithful, beautiful and attractive Van cats and decrease of them.

Denizli Rooster
Each rooster crows at its own placeBut Denizli Rooster crows everywhere."Thanks God, I have everything here. Only one thing is missing in my life here: Cock crowing... said a rich businessman living in New York. The rooster he was talking about was Denizli rooster. While he was expressing his missing of the rooster, he was also expressing a reality of the modern world. "I was born at dawn time in Denizli while roosters were crowing.... Then I used to wake up with the same sound for many years... I was getting out of my bed with the sound of my rooster every morning at a regular time like a clock set. Let me tell you something now..... I have not heard any rooster crowing here for 21 years...The thing that modern city life has taken out off me is rooster crowing sound which is sweeter than gold sound... Contemporary city life, at the very beginning, stops the sound of rooster...""Denizli Rooster", the symbol of Denizli is a domestic species which is well known in even the farthest regions to our city with its colour and body building, harmonious long and beautiful crowing. According to some rumours, Berat roosters having long crowing were brought to Istanbul during Ottoman Empire from Albania and then brought to Denizli and crossbred with domestic chicken of Denizli and thus Denizli Rooster species was originated but it is not true. Because there are no similarities between two species when compared in terms of colour and body structure. Denizli rooster was originated automatically upon great care shown by the people living in Denizli to long crowing rooster for centuries. The colour of Denizli rooster's eyes is black and blackened with kohl. Its legs are dark grey or purple, its comb is in big axe comb, and atrium is red or white spots on red background, general colour is black and dirty white together. Sometimes wing features have brown colours. Red roosters have black-white mixture. Their alive weight is about 3-3.5 kg. They are divided into 3 groups according to their colours, body building and combs types. According to their colours they are classified into 6 groups as: DEMIRKIR, PAMUKKIR, KINALI, AL, SIYAH and KÜRKLÜ. According to their body building, they are divided into 3 types, namely: YÜKSEK BOYUN, SÜLÜN and KÜPELI. According to their combs, they are divided into 2 types: GENIS IBIK and DAR IBIK. The sound of Denizli roosters are classified according to the tone and clearness. According to sound tones they are divided into 3 groups: INCE, DAVUDI, KALIN SES. Davudi (bass) voice is between high pitched and deep voice and is the only sound close to deep voice. According to clearness, they are divided into 4 groups, namely: SAD VOICE, SHRILL VOICE, WAVY VOICE (FUNNY VOICE). Crowing of Denizli roosters is performed upon use of all abilities. Crowing is divided into 4 groups depending on body position during crowing, which are; LION CROWING, WOLF CROWING, HERO CROWING, PUS CROWING.A good Denizli Rooster must have: lively appearance, long and strong legs and neck, wide and deep chest, sharp and sloped toward head tail. The same features are true for the chicken. The crowing period of Denizli Roosters in the first year must be 20 to 25 seconds. Denizli roosters being grown up by Denizli species production unit formed under body of Director of Province Agricultural Affairs are maintained generally in 100 flocks. Breeding roosters are selected and the rests are sold according to the demands made from various parts of the country from March, April, and sales of chicks are made in March, April, may, June.

Sea Turtles
Sea Turtles have been around for 95 million years. Their ancestors were giant land turtles that entered the sea ages ago when the great dinosaurs lived. The first sea turtles looked little like those of today. It took millions of years for sea turtles to change, for legs to become pad-shaped flippers and for heavy, bulky bodies to flatten into lighter, streamlined shapes. The dinosaurs and the giant land turtles are gone forever; we can see only their fossil bones in museums. But, somehow, sea turtles have lived on.Seven different kinds still swim in warm and temperate oceans around the world. They spend their whole lives in the water except for the brief times the females come onto land to nest and lay their eggs. The sea turtles share the sea with fish, whales, other sea creatures and you and me. In the seas surrounding Turkey, two species of sea turtles live: Loggerheads (Caretta caretta) and Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas).
Today the main threat to the adult loggerheads lies in shrimp trawls and crab fishing nets, to which many loggerheads annually fall victim. Furthermore, adults are often injured by speedboat propellers and by swallowing fishing hooks or getting caught in nets. Internationally animal protection organizations take pains to monitor and protect the turtles' nesting grounds in Turkey,Greece, Bonaire and Costa Rica. The turtles can also be found around the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Linosa, off the coast of Sicily, and in Calabria, where it is particularly endangered. Furthermore, the turtles are known to nest on the beaches of Cyprus, especially Akamas and Alagadi Beach.[8]
Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest roped off as part of the Sea Turtle Protection Project on Hilton Head Island
In many places during the nesting season workers search the coastline to find evidence of nests. Once found a nest will be uncovered and the eggs carefully counted, if the nest is dangerously located the eggs will be moved to a better spot. Plastic fencing will be placed at or near the surface to protect the eggs from large predators such as raccoons or even dogs. The barrier used is large enough to allow the hatchlings to emerge without difficulty. The nests are checked daily for disturbances, several days after there is indication that the eggs have hatched the nest will be uncovered and the tally of hatched eggs, undeveloped eggs, and dead hatchlings will be recorded. If any hatchlings are found, they are either taken to be raised and released, or taken to research facilities. Ones that appear strong and healthy may instead be released to the ocean. Typically those that lacked the strength to hatch and climb to the surface by that point would have died otherwise.
Hatchlings require the travel from their nest to the ocean in order to build up strength for the journey ahead, so interfering by helping it to the ocean actually lowers their chances of survival.
It is listed as Endangered under both Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Thermit Ibis (Kelaynak) Birds
From old hand writing documents, it has been determined that Thermit Ibis birds used to live in Europe since 1504. This bird, which was living in Central Europe near the Alps, was first defined by C. Gessner as Corvus Sylvaticus in 1555 in Historia Animalium and some information was given about the birds' life style. Later, it was determined that those birds, which disappeared in Europe, emigrated to Middle East countries and Africa and they still live in these countries. Thermit Ibis that come to Birecik in the middle of February settle down at rocks in the middle of March. After their procreation, their raise their young and in the middle of July they leave Birecik with their young. The reason for these birds to come to Birecik for procreation is thought to be that the calcite mineral in those rocks increased the procreation energy of birds. Thermit Ibis birds are single mate and every year they build their nest and lash out with the same couple. Mature birds are the ones that show their energy to build up a nest. It is necessary to be 5 years old, to become a mature bird. Their average life period is 25-30 years. In the beginning of 1950, the number of Thermit Ibis was more than 1000, there had been a specific decrease in the number of birds since 1954.Destruction of natural feeding environment of these birds with overuse of agricultural insecticide chemicals, hunting of these birds by the hunters in their long immigration period and cold weather conditions are the main reasons for the decrease of Thermit Ibis birds. Thermit Ibis birds follow the Lebanon - Israel way and the River Nil or Red Sea coast and cannot be observed at those places. In order to prevent the decrease in number and disappearing of the generation, Thermit Ibis Procreation Station was established in Birecik by the Generate Directorate of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs in 1972. In this station, first of all two mature and nine young Thermit Ibis birds were captured by net and put into a cage, and then production started in 1977. The birds under protection are fed with meat without fat, planed carrot, boiled egg and mixture of fodder. In February 1996, 52 Hermit Ibis birds set free from procreation station to reproduction in nature. After the reproduction season, the total number reached to 75 with 23 young birds. 4 of them are given to Istanbul Bayramoglu Zoo, 5 of them are given to Atatürk Orman Çiftligi, 13 of them immigrated and 45 of them are still living in procreation station. Birecik people consider Hermit Ibis birds which they regionally call "Keçelaynak" holy. Arrival of Hermit Ibis birds to Birecik in the middle of February is interpreted by Birecik people as a sign of spring. In recent years, "Hermit Ibis Festival" is being organized in Birecik for these birds.

SOME SPECIES UNDER DANGER IN EUROPE
(Sari Kamisçin) (Acrocephalus paludicola)It is found in the large reedbeds in the shallow areas having a water level of 1cm - 10 cm during the reproduction season. They are known to prefer the marsh meadows in the river valleys for reproduction. During migration, Acrocephalus paludicola needs short grasses in the marshes and reeds in open waters. Their reproduction systems are poligamic and they combine mixed reproduction systems. The young is brought forth in 15 - 16 days. Reproduction success is very high, it is 83%. The reason of the reproduction losses is small mammals. It is rarely seen in Marmara Region, Western Mediterranean and Northeastern Anatolia in Turkey as summer immigrant. Among the wild animals in our country whose generation is becoming extinct, the first is bald ibis (Geronticus eremita). It lives in the form of a colony only in Birecik district of Urfa in Turkey. For this reason, the efforts for the protection and reproduction of bald ibis, which has a special place in the fauna of our country and closely followed by the public, have gained importance. The biggest strike is hit to the bald ibis population in between 1958 - 60. DDT is used in pesticide application by plane in South-eastern Anatolia against the desert grasshoppers getting close from Syria and Iraq. Once upon a time, a big community was formed, it is said that persons saying that "the bald ibis colony was so crowded that when they flied together, they could cover the sun" still live. Some foreign bird observers have recorded that there existed more than one thousand bald ibis nests in that region at the beginning of the 20th century. In this case, it is said that the bald ibis population at that time exceeded five thousands. As the result of DDT pesticide used, more than 700 pairs of bald ibis have died. Their number decreased year by year. Upon this, bald ibises have been taken under protection for the entire year since 1967 with the decree of Central Hunting Commission basing on the authorization given by the Law on Land Hunting numbered 3167. But their being taking under protection could not prevent the decrease in their number. As the buildings having 3-4 floors increased in front of the rocks where they made their nests, the individuals in the colony are affected.A bald ibis reproduction station is established at a location that is 1 km away from the city by General Directorate of National Parks and Hunting - Wild Life in 1978 in order to support the population in nature by reproducing the bald ibis in artificial locations. The bald ibises reproduced in the reproduction station were marked and released to the nature; although some of the released bald ibises mated with the ones returning from migration and had young, most important problem has been their staying in Birecik instead of migrating. This resulted in the birds' losing their natural behaviour and the death of the individuals staying in Birecik. Birecik Public thought the bald ibises as holy animals that show the coming spring and arranged festivals because of the coming bald ibises, but the efforts shown could not prevent the decrease in their number and the reality that every year, a smaller number than that of the migrated bald ibises returned back to Birecik and unfortunately, in 1991 not one bald ibis came to our country. These birds that make their nests in rock terraces in the form of colonies generally lay 2 - 4 eggs and incubation period is 27 - 28 days. Bald ibises feed with grasshoppers, coleopteran insects, snakes, lizards, mole crickets, etc. Reed Cock (Parphyro porphyro)Reed cock that is named as Sultan Tavugu and Gök Saz Horozu at some locations, was found only in Göksu Delta in our country, but recently it is seen in Kizilirmak Delta. This bird is native in our country. It does not migrate. Although it is said that it came to Kizilirmak Delta from the south of Hazar Sea, in our opinion it is generated in Kizilirmak Delta and began to be seen when its number increased. The generation of this bird in our country is in danger. In Göksu Delta 300 pairs, in Kizilirmak Delta 20 pairs are recorded. Reed Cock lives and makes its nest in lakes covered with reed and cattails, marshes, large canals covered with reeds and lakes. The female makes the nest with the male. The female lays 3 - 5 eggs, they set by turns. Incubation period is 28 days. The parents grow up the offspring getting out of the egg. The offspring flies in 35 - 40 days. They feed with the fresh parts of various water plants, seeds, water insects, larva, frogs, etc.
Anatolian Wild Sheep(Ovis orientalis anatolica valenciennes 1856)There are two types of wild sheep in our country. One of them lives in Eastern Anatolia Region in Hakkari, Van, Igdir and the other lives only in Konya - Bozdag both in the world and in our country. This latter type is the Anatolian wild sheep. The most significant difference between these two types of sheep is that the female of the species living in Eastern Anatolia has horns while the female of the species living in Konya - Bozdag does not have any horns. It is indicated that Anatolian wild sheep was found in the rocky area lying to Emirdaglari between Afyon - Konya and to Konya in east - south direction until 1945. Until the end of 1950s, they were seen in Karadag which is at the north of Bozdag. Until 1957, they lived around Ankara - Nallihan, in Saruyar Dam valley, between Mihaliççik - Sivrihisar towards south, in Araidbaba Mountain which is in the southeast of Sivrihisar. They are said to live in Bolkar Mountains until 1963. As the result of their being hunted unconsciously and exceedingly in 1960s, their number decreased down to 35 and they lived only in Konya Bozdag, but they are taken under protection by the Ministry of Forestry and their number increased by time.The females of the Anatolian wild sheep which have a life of 15 - 18 years have a weight of 50 kg, while the weight of the males is 75 kg for old ones. They have reddish brown color in summer and have short hair, in winter their color gets darker and black manes occur in the chest and neck parts of the males after 2 - 3 years. While the wild sheep that continuously move during the day are resting, one male sheep continuously stands guard and hits its feet to ground and makes a sound similar to whistle in case of a danger to warn other sheep. All the herd runs towards the direction where the guardian sheep goes. Under normal conditions, predatory animals such as wolfs, dogs, jackals can not catch those sheep. Their sight and smell senses are very strong and they are resistant against thirst. In autumn and winter, they take out the roots and nodules of the plants with their nails and eat them. They mate in December and bring forth young between the beginning of May and beginning of June. The young female brings forth a single offspring, while the females aged more than two bring double offspring. Their front feet are shorter than their back feet. The number per herd of the Anatolian wild sheep which live in the form of herds sometimes reach 100. In 1967, it has been seen that this value was about to disappear and this species has been taken under protection and now it lives in an area of 42.000 ha at the right and left of the main road between Konya - Aksaray at a distance of 50 km to Konya. This area includes Bozdag, Sasa Mountain, Balik Mountain and Hodulbaba Mountain and is surrounded by Divanlar Göcü, Gene, Agsakli, Yaglibayat, Bademli Gimir, Kocas, Karakaya villages. As indicated, the sheep that had a big number previously, has become rare as the result of excess hunting stress, the sheep dogs' killing the falcon offspring’s and the wolf's directing the sheep towards snow gaps and causing their death under winter conditions. Furthermore, the faces of sheep dogs with parasites contaminated the grass and tapeworms passed to the wild sheep eating that grass. Another reason for that decrease in the number of that sheep is the feeding competition that occurred as the result of feeding ten thousands of sheep in the same area. These bad conditions have been improved in favour of the sheep as the result of the works carried out by our Ministry. To summarize them, big numbers of guards, personnel and vehicles have been charged in the region, struggles have been made with the wolfs and unconfined dogs, entrance of tamed sheep is forbidden to some regions, spread of tamed sheep in those regions with dogs has been prevented during the birth and offspring periods of the wild sheep, water has been provided to the animals in hot summer months by constructing grass and fodder storage and water containers and in this way, healthy offspring’s have been obtained. In extreme winters, grass support has been provided to the area and the growing up and continuity of life of the wild sheep have been provided. In order to prevent the death of the sheep because of probable infectious diseases in the area, an area of 5 thousand ha has been surrounded with both net wire and electroshock wire to divide the sheep population into two; a big part of the sheep has been taken into this fence and diseases and parasites in these sheep have been minimized and feeding competition and wolf damages have been completely prevented. In this area, the sheep will be placed in compliance with their old living environment in a program that will provide their easily being caught. As the conditions got better, it has been determined that there are 1041 sheep in that area as the result of the counting made in the area surrounded with net and electroshock wire, by General Directorate of National Parks and Hunting - Wild Life in February 1998 with the cooperation of our Ministry and Selçuk University. Naturally, as the result of the increase in the number of the sheep in the area, the works such as the provision of fodder, water, grass, maintenance, protection, study, inventory, etc and administrative expenses will increase and there will be great need for vehicles, helicopters and trained personnel. Big amounts of money will be needed for such works and in case legal arrangement is made in accordance with the contemporary conditions, it may be possible to permit hunting in order to provide contribution to economy. As an example to show that the sheep are valuable and that their hunting value is high, two of the sheep has been hunted as the result of laboratory examination and a price of 18.500$ for one of them and 12.500 $ for the other has been taken. In case the public and the local administrations pay the necessary attention to the issue, we have to use any of our possibilities for the protection, development and proliferation of this species that has a great importance in terms of hunting tourism.