As snow blankets the pine-clad forests of the Sarıkamış district in northeastern Kars, the brown bears inhabiting the area have begun their hibernation, marking the shift of their seasonal conduct.
Emrah Çoban, the Science Coordinator at Kuzeydoğa Association, monitoring brown bears within the Sarıkamış forests by way of satellites, traps and cameras, revealed that among the many eight bears underneath remark, six have already entered hibernation with the arrival of December.
Çoban, concerned in brown bear monitoring throughout Türkiye, notably in Sarıkamış, emphasised their quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding bear life within the nation.
“Since 2011, we’ve been studying brown bears, seeking to unveil previously unknown aspects of their lives,” Çoban mentioned. “With the onset of autumn, brown bears began their preparations for hibernation.
They turned to richer autumn fruits, consumed extra meals and bulked up. While snowfall in our area and nation has been gradual, it seems the bears have expedited their hibernation course of because of the more and more chilly climate. Hibernation, at its core, is an adaptive technique developed by animals when meals turns into scarce or restricted.”
Sharing observations gathered from a number of areas, Çoban highlighted bears don’t instantly hibernate upon snowfall. They bear a preparatory section, steadily culminating of their entry into hibernation.
“In winter, forests will fall silent as the bears retire for hibernation. Citizens need to heed safety protocols. Brown bears are wild and potentially dangerous animals, especially when startled or cornered. If spotted on the outskirts of cities due to snowfall, it’s advisable to keep a safe distance from their habitat for both our safety and theirs,” Çoban cautioned.
Source: www.dailysabah.com