Bio-diversity

The project aimed to to protect the traditional role of the Kangal dogs that have been used as shepherd dogs for centuries and to use them as an alternative method in dealing with animals of prey, compared with shooting and poisoning. Recently, Kangal dogs have been commonly kept as pets at home, which has not been good for their health as they are big dogs that need to practice a lot and protect farm animals. The project will help them to regain their original role in animal husbandry, as well as enabling the conservation of the species itself. Also, as these dogs are very strong animals which are known to discourage animals of prey from attacking the herds, and even when they do attack, they are very effective in dealing with them. Main Activities The farm dealing with the project has been breeding and training Kangal dogs and providing them to the farmers around to protect their sheep even before the project, but in a very limited way. The farm conditions were very bad both for the people and for the animals. With the project the farm aimed at providing an increased the number of animals to the farmers, improving the conditions of the farm and the establishment of a self-regulatory and self-sustainable system for the protection of farm animals from animals such as Canis lupus, wolf and lynx, together with protecting the Kangal dog species. In the farm, the animals were trained by the project team to be able to guide a herd. The farm not only undertook the responsibility of breeding and training the dogs, but also overseeing the overall health of the animals by making regular checks. The project also aimed to make public awareness activities regarding the issue and to aim at scientifically proving that the use of Kangal dogs against animals of prey to be an effective and nature-friendly method. Main Actors The main actors in the project has been the Dog Farm and the Project Coordinator, Mr. Onur Kanli, the farmers in Haymana, WWF Turkey for assessment of actual impact of the decrease in the use of alternative methods to deal with animals of prey as a result of the use of the dogs. Also, the provincial directorate of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Governorship of Haymana and the Municipality of Oyaca has supported the project.

Turkey