Red deer population rising

YOZGAT – Anadolu Agency

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A rise seen in the population of red deer, which began in a special reproduction station established in 1991, in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat’s Akdağmadeni district has proven satisfying for local officials.
 
Yozgat Natural Protection and National Parks Director Cihan Eğilmez said the Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry had established reproduction stations in various regions for the for red deer to reproduce. 

He said three male and two female red deer were placed in a 5.5-hectare station in 1991, adding their population had jumped to 15 by the time they were released to their natural habitat in 2008. 

However, he added two had died and the number had fallen to 13. “But the others survived in nature and their number increased to 18 with new babies. They are healthy. We saw that new babies were born last year and this year, too. We observed that the red deer do not have problem [finding] food in the Akdağmadeni forests and they continue reproducing,” he said, adding they have, however, left food for the deer during harsh winter days.