Here’s an interesting note from Ian Green (from the UK’s Greentours) on some of the mammals he encounters in southwest Turkey close to his home. This is a much under-mammalwatched region in my opinion.
Southwestern Turkey, 2021: Ian Green, with species including Caracal, Jungle Cat, Indian Porcupine and Nehring’s Mole Rat.
Jon
Thank you for sharing this very informative summary of the mammals in your region!
Southern Turkey is fascinating. Near-absence of mammals at high elevations is a common feature of many Mediterranean areas (the High Atlas, Greece, even the Sierra Nevada of California) – I wonder why it is so.
nowhere for anything to hide. The landscapes above the tree line are totally open and in summer months there’s many herds of grazing animals with shepherds. I think over the past millenia they’ve just hunted everything out above the tree line. It is noticeably much more animal rich as soon as you descend into forest and maquis. The mountains while rugged are not rugged enough to keep out the hunters