New production station to save rare gazelles from extinction

HATAY – Anadolu Agency

AA Photo

Hatay’s endangered mountain gazelles, which were discovered in 2008 and named “Gazella gazella,” will be saved from extinction by the new Mountain Gazelle Production Station, established in the southern province’s Kırıkhan district by the General Directorate of National Parks. 

In Turkey this type of gazelle species lives only in Hatay, according to officials, and seven gazelles, including one female, were taken to the station established on a 160-decare field. 

National Parks Chief Ziya Gelincik said the station, which was established for gazelles living on a 7,000-hectare military field near the Syrian border, is being observed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The station has water and feeding troughs, said Gelincik, adding that the gazelles would not be taken away from their natural environment. 

“We have placed the first gazelles in the station, which was established in 2013. They will be living there away from all dangers. We will bring new gazelles this year in May, the breeding season,” he said. 

He said last year in May they had taken an inventory of the gazelles in the province and found more than 400 gazelles. “This number increases every year,” he added. 

It was also reported that the station could also prevent mass deaths of gazelles in case of an epidemic disease.