Lives of brown bears in Kars tracked via satellite transmitters

Brown bears living in the forests of the Sarıkamış district of Kars have entered hibernation this season due to snow and freezing temperatures.

With the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the team from the Kuzey Doğa Association, which has been researching wildlife in the forests of Kars, Erzurum, and Sarıkamış since 2006, continues to study the habitats of brown bears equipped with satellite transmitters.

The brown bears, which travel to the rural areas of Artvin's Şavşat district for food during the summer months, returned to Sarıkamış in October and November by following the route they had taken.

Due to the heavy snow and freezing temperatures affecting the region, it has been determined that the brown bears using the area are in hibernation.

THEY WILL WAKE UP IN THE SPRING

The 10 brown bears being tracked via satellite transmitters are expected to wake up from hibernation in the spring.

As part of the study, the lives of 78 brown bears have been tracked using satellite transmitters since 2006.

In recent years, due to dry winters and temperatures remaining above seasonal norms, it had been observed that some brown bears in the region did not hibernate, while others went into hibernation late and woke up early.

'THEY BEGAN HIBERNATING WITH THE SNOWFALL'

Kuzey Doğa Association Science Coordinator Emrah Çoban told an AA reporter that they are tracking brown bears in Sarıkamış using satellite transmitters in cooperation with the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.

Explaining that the weather in Sarıkamış has been both cold and has seen significant snowfall this year, Çoban said, "The brown bears we track began to hibernate one by one as the snow fell. This year, with the heavy snowfall and temperatures dropping below zero, all of the brown bears have entered hibernation. Sarıkamış is currently waiting for the brown bears to wake up in the spring."

Stating that all bears tracked with satellite transmitters have entered hibernation, Çoban noted the following:

"The hibernation of brown bears is related to air temperature and food. Animals actually hibernate due to the decrease in food. Bears survive these difficult times by slowing down their metabolism and spending them in sleep. This year, winter in Sarıkamış is passing a bit more harshly; even though it has been warm for the last week, the brown bears continue to sleep.

Last year, with the weather warming up rapidly after April, the brown bears woke up from hibernation early and went to sleep later. During that period, it was also observed that some brown bears did not hibernate at all."

News Source: AA