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Prof. Dr. Hatice Özlem Nisbet, Head of the Wild Animal Diseases Department at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), reported that 350 wild animals have been treated in their animal hospital this year and subsequently released back into nature.
Nisbet noted that a significant number of birds in Türkiye reside and breed in the Samsun region, as it lies on a key migration route.
She mentioned that wild animals, particularly from the Kızılırmak Delta Bird Sanctuary, are sometimes brought in after being shot. "Other times, animals are brought to us suffering from migration fatigue or viral diseases. In cases involving traffic accidents, we mostly deal with mammals. Predatory mammals such as roe deer, foxes, wolves, and jackals are also frequently treated at our hospital. We also see cases involving hedgehogs, turtles, martens, otters, squirrels, and hares."
Prof. Dr. Hatice Özlem Nisbet highlighted a significant increase in the number of cases at their animal hospital, established in 2011, attributing this to the growing recognition of the faculty in recent years. She mentioned that 350 wild animals have been treated so far this year.
Emphasizing that their hospital receives wild animals from many provinces in the Black Sea region, Nisbet remarked, "We receive wild animals for treatment from Trabzon, Rize, Kastamonu, Çorum, Amasya, and several other provinces. On average, we treat 450-500 animals annually and release them back into nature."
Nisbet stressed the distinction between wild and domestic animals, explaining, "Domestic animals have owners who care for them at home or in a garden, bring them for treatment, and continue their care. However, this is not the case for wildlife. They have no owners, and all responsibility for them falls on us. A wild animal that comes to us remains under our care throughout the treatment process until it is released back into nature. This can take a minimum of a few months, sometimes only a week or ten days for observation and care, but often 3-4 months or even longer. During this period, their care and treatment are our responsibility."
Özlem Nisbet emphasized the goal of rehabilitating and returning wild animals back to their natural habitat. She explained, "While pet animals like cats and dogs can continue their lives even with limb loss because they have owners to care for them, we don't have this possibility with wild animals."
Highlighting the importance of avoiding any bonding with wild animals, as they are destined to be released back into nature, Nisbet elaborated: "It's crucial that these animals do not come into contact with people or become accustomed to them. We create environments accordingly. We minimize their interaction with humans. They shouldn't have eye contact with people, nor should they be spoken to loudly. They must not get used to human voices and scents. These are important criteria for successfully reintegrating them back into nature."
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