Wildlife rehabilitation centers in Turkey release rescued owls and storks

Wildlife rehabilitation centers in Turkey have successfully released several rescued animals back into their natural habitats.

In Antalya, the Metropolitan Municipality's Veterinary Affairs Department completed a two-month rehabilitation process for three tawny owl chicks. The owls, which were found abandoned or injured, were taught essential survival skills, including hunting, wing flapping, and flying, before being released into the wild by experts from the Antalya Natural Life Park and Nature Conservation and National Parks teams.

In Hatay, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKÜ) released 21 storks and one rice bird following medical treatment. The birds were brought to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center suffering from various issues, including wing injuries, fractures, birdshot wounds, electric shocks, and migration exhaustion. Experts noted that Hatay serves as a critical transit point on the migration route between Europe and Africa, where birds often face human-induced threats such as wind turbines and illegal hunting.