Deer numbers increase eightfold in Uludağ University project

As part of a project carried out at the Uludağ University campus in the northwestern Turkish province of Bursa, the number of deer increased more than eightfold in 13 years. 

The dean of the university's Veterinary Faculty, Professor Ülgen Günay, said they first started the project in 2004 with the establishment of a special deer-breeding center. 

At the beginning of the project they brought 10 deer from the Uludağ National Park in order to increase their population and send them to various natural living fields across Turkey. 

"The number of deer rose to 83 from 10 in 13 years. Here the deer live in an area of 100,000 square meters and have all their needs met," Günay said, adding that they gave food supplements to the deer during seasonal changes. 

"Also, as part of a protocol between our faculty and the Directorate of Nature Conservation and Natural Parks, we treat the deer here without any financial worries. We send them to the centers that want to breed deer after making necessary checks of these centers. For example, we sent six deer to the Black Sea province of Giresun a few years ago and seven deer to the northwestern İzmit last year," he stated.