Turkey releases 51,000 quail and pheasants to curb tick infestations

Turkey’s Directorate General of Agricultural and Rural Support (DKMP) has intensified a biological‑control programme against ticks by releasing thousands of quail (keklik) and pheasants (sülün) into the wild. In late September, 900 quails were released in the Kızılcahamam district of Ankara, while a separate operation in Yıldızeli, Sivas, saw 500 quails set free. The agency reports a total production of 39,250 quails and 11,750 pheasants for the year, aiming to place about 51,000 birds in suitable habitats by the end of the season.

The releases target areas with water sources and seed‑bearing vegetation, and the release sites are closed to hunting for three years to protect the new populations. Officials say the birds help balance tick populations by feeding on insects, offering an ecological alternative to chemical acaricides and supporting biodiversity and sustainable wildlife management.

Both projects are part of a broader effort to strengthen Turkey’s wildlife, protect agricultural lands from tick‑borne damage, and promote environmentally friendly pest control methods.