Locals warned against smuggling of rare insects, plants in Van

VAN – Doğan News Agency

The directorate’s head in Diyarbakır, Yunus Bakıcı, and his team visited locals in the İkizler quarter of the Gevaş district. DHA Photo

Officials from the directorate of nature conservation and national parks are holding training sessions for locals in mosques to warn them against the smuggling of rare insects and plants by tourists in the eastern province of Van.

The directorate’s head in Diyarbakır, Yunus Bakıcı, and his team visited locals in the İkizler quarter of the Gevaş district. Bakıcı and his team met with locals in the mosque to inform them of the illegal smuggling and also to educate them on Van’s rich biodiversity, which is home to rare species of insects and plants.

Bakıcı said they have been working with locals for three months to warn them of foreign smugglers in the area.

“First of all, we warn people against the onset of foreign smugglers. We advise them to call us or the police as soon as they see any acts like these occurring. We pay close attention to prevent such acts from happening in the area. We also tell locals not to allow hunting in order to protect the natural wildlife. We have received positive results since [over the past three months],” said Bakıcı.