Monitoring Red Deer and Roe Deer Population Density in Yedigoller-Yesiloz Wildlife Reserves in Turkey

Abstract

Wildlife inventories are very new in Turkey. Thus, there is no enough data about red deer and roe deer population. However, these studies have gained momentum in recent years. In this study, it is aimed to determine and to monitor status of red deer and roe deer population densities. In the study, it was used a kind of drive count which was combined with point count. The study was conducted between 2003 and 2010 in October, once a year. Red deer and roe deer densities were determined between 0.45 and 1.19 red deer/km(2); 1.48 and 2.05 roe deer/km(2). Also, average of annual growth rates were estimated for red deer (0.135) and roe deer (-0.0059). The study showed that whilst the red deer population has been increasing, roe deer population has been decreasing in long term period.