The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Directorate of Nature Conservation and the National Parks and Directorate of Wildlife have initiated a project to protect wildlife around the Ankara-Istanbul highway. As part of the project, the officials will observe whether deer, roe deer, boars, wolves, foxes, bears and wildcats use the transit points on the highway. Moreover, the locations of constructions such as underpasses, vents, viaducts, bridges and tunnels will be recorded, and it will be determined whether these animals use them or not. As part of the project, the populations of the wild animals and their interaction with traffic will be studied, and ecobridges will be built in order to protect the wildlife. The study will take place along a 10-km stretch of the Anadolu Highway, which is situated between Ankara Akıncılar and the junction point of the Bolu Göcükler Village Road, and will be spread over 1,080 km in total. Experts on wildlife and population genetics as well as veterinarians will participate in the study. When thoroughfares that are important for wildlife intersect with highways, the risk of death to both humans and animals increases. Moreover, the risk of injuries and damage with significant economic losses increases as well. Ecobridges are also being built on the North Marmara Highway, which will be connected to the third bridge of Istanbul.
