Officials search for lion in northern Turkey upon shepherd's report
Upon the report of a northern Turkey shepherd, gendarmerie and officials from the Nature Protection and National Parks Directorate have started a search for a lion in Çorum. The shepherd's report of a lion sighting followed two animals' disappearance, prompting a search. Both the missing cattle were found, but no lion was detected.
Elvan Yılmaz / DUVAR
Officials from the gendarmerie and the Nature Protection and National Parks Directorate search an area in the northern province of Çorum when a local shepherd reported seeing a lion around.
Shepherd Ammar Almasri's report of a lion sighting coincided with two cattle recently going missing, creating cause for suspicion.
Almasri even provided images of an object that could be interpreted as a lion standing in local bushes.
The shepherd claimed that the lion had two cubs and appeared between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
When the village head made claims that supported Almasri's, squads from local gendarmerie and the local Nature Protection and National Parks Directorate searched the area.
Upon extensive searches on the ground with aerial support, officials recovered animal remains belonging to one of the missing animals, and the other one was found alive.
Officials' search of the area was ongoing as of June 10.
Although Turkey has historically been home to lion species, the local Asian lion population is thought to have gone extinct in the 19th century.