Hawks can be sold for up to TL 40,000-50,000 in Middle Eastern countries such Syria, where they are reportedly used as drug couriers.Despite the ban, poachers from Hatay continue to climb the heights of the Taurus Mountains, and even though there are arrests every year, the small fines do not act as a deterrent.
After receiving a tip-off that white hawks, which are in danger of extinction, are being trapped in the Hüyük plateau in the town of Arslanköy in Mersin, the environment and forestry directorates of Mersin and Karaman carried out an operation against the poachers in collaboration with the gendarmerie. During the operation, which started early on Friday morning, security forces spotted six individuals suspected of trapping hawks, but were only able to apprehend two while the other four escaped. The poachers who were arrested, Mehmet İri and İbrahim Şanverdi, received fines of TL 1,100 in total. They had reportedly been arrested last year as well. The pigeons the hawk trappers used to lure the hawks were found, but despite all their efforts, the hawk was not recovered. The two hunters, who were caught because they had a blowout in their vehicle, denied accusations that they were hunting hawks, claiming they were hunting quails and partridges, neither of which is found in the region. Mersin Environment and Forestry Directorate Assistant Director Zübeyir Güvel, who led the operation, said they were determined to preserve nature, adding that their fight to protect the hawks would continue.
