Hungry fox comes to Tunceli tourist facility everyday

TUNCELİ

A fox that has trouble finding food in the eastern province of Tunceli’s snowbound Ovacık district is fed by an animal lover, Erdal Varlıel, and his friends. 

After being fed there once, the fox has frequented Varlıer’s touristic facility in Güneykonak village every night for about two months. 

Varlıer, who named the fox “Gülistan,” feeds the fox meat and bones. The animal returns to its environment after eating. 

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, Varlıer said Ovacık is rich in terms of wildlife. He said there were many foxes, bears, pigs and wolves in the district, urging people to be merciful towards wild animals. 

Stating that foxes were seen in the district all the time, Varlıer said, “When Gülistan first came close to our facility, we gave her meat and a bone. Now she comes here every night and we feed her by hand. When she comes to the facility, she goes to the window of our cottage. She notifies us that she has arrived. I then open the door of the cottage and she comes in. She sits on the couch and wanders around. She is a very cute animal and is never afraid of us.” 

Another animal lover, Doğucan Yerlikaya said there was no need to domesticate wild animals, adding: “Wild animals in our district are fed by people like they are domestic animals in front of their doors. The protection of the wildlife is important for the ecological balance. We are people who are sensitive about this issue.”