Brown Bear Ecology and Human-Bear Conflict (HBC) Studies at Kaçkar Mountains, Artvin Turkey

My brown bear research had started in 2003 to determine brown bear habitat and conflict hotspots in Turkey. Then in 2004 I have found small grants from various organizations, such as Wildlife Conservation Society, METU etc. By these supports, I have been working in the field since 2004, recording sightings with cubs and all brown bear indicators e.g. scats, tracks and rub trees (see e.g. May issue of IBAN 2010). I have also regularly checked damage sites and obtain information from the locals about experienced wildlife damage. I usually meet with locals at least once a month at village cafes.
 

I focused on the Yusufeli district of Artvin (NE Turkey) but our project area stretches from inner Eastern Turkey (Erzurum) to the Black Sea coast (Rize) and east to the Georgian border (Borçka district of Artvin).