Investigation launched into mass flamingo deaths in drying lake

ISTANBUL

Turkish authorities have launched an investigation after thousands of baby flamingos were found dead on a dried part of Lake Tuz (Lake Salt) in the Central Anatolian province of Konya this week, reviving debates about the impact of drought on the ecosystem.

Lake Tuz, the second largest lake in Turkey and one of the largest hypersaline lakes in the world, is among the favorite habitat of migratory animals and has long been a hatching ground for flamingos as they usually prefer to lay their eggs in salty and wet areas. However, the drought due to lack of rainfall and excessive use of underground water has led to a lake waters to sap, making finding food a challenge for the flock of flamingos.

A video showing thousands of baby flamingos that have died on the dry floor of the lake has caused public outcry on July 13 after it went viral on social media platforms.

“Locals built barriers in water canals that feed the lake, and baby flamingos died as a result of the shrink in their water and food supply. This is a massacre,” said photographer Fahri Tunç.

Farmers in the area built barriers to redirect the water to their fields, preventing the canals from feeding the lake, Tunç noted, adding that the drought in the basin victimizes multiple species.

Noting that the mass deaths were caused by excessive irrigation, Turkey’s Nature Association President Dicle Kılıç said that the largest baby flamingo colony of this year died.

“These deaths should not be blamed on the climate crisis or the farmer. Wrong agricultural and irrigation policies are the primary cause of these deaths,” Kılıç said, adding that she was sad about the incident into which the Environment and Urbanization Ministry and Konya Governor’s Office launched investigations.

Speaking at an event held in Istanbul, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said that necessary investigations were made on the mass flamingo deaths.

“It seems that deaths are observed in dehydrated and flightless baby birds with the decrease in water and the increase in the concentration in the water,” Pakdemirli said.

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works will also take legal action against the farmers who irrigate their fields with pumps by building barriers in the water channels.

A closed basin spanning over three Central Anatolian provinces of Konya, Ankara and Aksaray, Lake Tuz houses more than 20,000 flamingos annually and is dubbed a “flamingo paradise” by locals.

Flamingos whose offspring died had come to the lake in March for the hatching season.