Urial sheep herd documented in Turkey's Karagöl Mountains

Associate Professor İlhan Karabıçak, a general surgeon at Medical Park Samsun Hospital, documented a herd of approximately 20 urial sheep (çengel boynuzlu dağ keçisi) during a hike in the Karagöl Mountains.

The urial sheep, also known as chamois or kırkeçi, is a protected species listed on the IUCN Red List. These animals are characterized by horns that curve backward like hooks and possess an anatomy suited for navigating steep, rocky, and icy terrain in high-altitude regions of Turkey.

Karabıçak, who uses his spare time to document the natural beauty and wildlife of the Black Sea region, shared the footage via his social media account, ‘Doğadaki Cerrah’ (The Surgeon in Nature), to raise awareness for wildlife conservation.