Population of strays, humans in Türkiye may equal by 2030: Expert

IZMIR

Against the backdrop of dog attack incidents, experts have raised concerns over the growing stray animal population in Türkiye, suggesting that it could equal the country’s human population by 2030.

Dog attacks have raised suspicions of rabies recently. Professor Dr. Alper Şener, a faculty member at Izmir Katip Çelebi University, explained that rabies is a feared disease due to its fatal nature to which vaccines do not provide the desired rate of protection.

Şener noted that Türkiye was among the World Health Organization’s list of endemic countries due to the rise in stray animal population and said, "The main concern is to control the stray animal population on the streets. Citizens need to be informed that it is not right to keep animals on the streets."

"We concentrate on rabies, but unfortunately other parasitic and cyst diseases are also transmitted by stray animals. If this problem is not controlled, it would be impossible to prevent these diseases," he added.

Noting that there is no definitive cure for rabies, Şener stressed the importance of prevention. "Stray animals should be rehabilitated as soon as possible. This is important for the prevention of rabies. We love nature and animals, but human health is more important than anything else."

"Articles published by veterinarians predict that by 2030-2040 stray animal population may be equal to the human population. This is a terrible number. Nowhere in the world are animals allowed to breed so freely," Şener said,