WCC 2020 Res 009 - Activity Report

The great bustard (Otis tarda), the heaviest flying bird and a symbol of grassland ecosystems, has experienced a sharp decline in numbers due to intensive industrial agriculture, habitat destruction, and hunting pressures. In Türkiye, it is estimated that only around 600 individuals remain, with an estimated global population of 30,000. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently upgraded the species' conservation status from Vulnerable (VU) to Endangered (EN), highlighting the urgent need for increased conservation efforts. We conducted an extensive study on the lesser-known habitats of the great bustard in Central Anatolia, identifying the presence of the species in several areas. A scientific paper detailing our findings in the Acıgöl Basin was published in the OSME Journal.